Mother's Quick Thinking Leads to Son's Eye Cancer Diagnosis After Spotting White Glow
A mother's observation of an unusual white reflection in her young son's eye has led to a life-saving diagnosis of a rare form of eye cancer, with treatment now underway at Birmingham Women's and Children's Hospital.
Initial Observations and Medical Journey
Laura Breeze, a 39-year-old mother of four from Norwich, first noticed a distinctive white glow in her three-year-old son Brody's right eye in November 2024. Initially dismissing it as a reflection from kitchen lights, Laura grew concerned when the phenomenon persisted despite reassurance from their GP that everything appeared normal.
"The first time I saw it, I thought perhaps I hadn't seen it properly, or that it may just have been the kitchen lights catching his eye a certain way," Laura recalled. "The doctor looked in Brody's eye and told me all was fine. I came away from the appointment feeling reassured everything was OK."
Escalating Concerns and Specialist Referral
When the white glow continued to appear, Laura conducted online research that consistently pointed toward retinoblastoma, a rare childhood eye cancer. She promptly booked an appointment with an optician, who confirmed the unusual glow and made an urgent referral to Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.
Unwilling to wait the scheduled week for the hospital appointment, Laura and her husband Ryan, 41, arranged a private consultation with a paediatric ophthalmologist in Manchester. The specialist examined Brody's dilated eye and expressed 99.9 percent certainty that the child had retinoblastoma, immediately referring him to Birmingham Women's and Children's Hospital for further evaluation.
Diagnosis and Treatment at Birmingham Hospital
At Birmingham Children's Hospital, examinations under anaesthesia confirmed Brody had unilateral retinoblastoma in his right eye, featuring one large Grade D tumour. Medical professionals expressed hope for saving the eye but indicated that vision preservation was unlikely due to the tumour's location.
Brody has since undergone two rounds of intra-arterial chemotherapy, a targeted treatment that delivers medication directly into the affected eye. He is currently receiving laser therapy as part of his ongoing treatment plan and will continue monthly examinations to monitor his progress.
Family's Emotional Journey and Support Network
"The whole situation, looking back now, is a bit of a blur," Laura shared. "The shock, fear and panic we felt, whilst trying to maintain normality and balance for Brody and my other children, was extremely difficult."
She described the initial terror upon hearing the cancer diagnosis: "It was like 'oh my gosh', is he going to make it? Is he going to be alright? Has it spread? It was really scary."
Despite the challenges, Laura praised Brody's resilience and the support from his playschool staff, who have provided materials to keep him entertained during hospital visits and offered consistent emotional support throughout the family's ordeal.
Importance of Awareness and Early Detection
The Childhood Eye Cancer Trust (CHECT) emphasizes that common indicators of retinoblastoma include:
- A white glow in the eye, often visible only in specific lighting or flash photography
- A persistent squint
- Changes in the eye's appearance
- A swollen eye
CHECT Chief Executive Richard Ashton stated: "Brody's story shows the importance of retinoblastoma awareness among health professionals. We are grateful that Brody's diagnosis was confirmed and that he was able to receive treatment."
The organization urges anyone concerned about potential retinoblastoma symptoms in a child to seek immediate medical attention from a GP or optician. The Child Cancer Smart campaign further advises health professionals to refer to local paediatric services if a child exhibits three persistent symptoms, has visited health professionals three times, or has experienced unexplained symptoms for three weeks.
Brody continues to demonstrate remarkable spirit throughout his treatment, described by his mother as "full-of-beans" and actively participating in toddler football sessions and playschool activities with his friends.
