Brian Barso - Retinoblastoma in Children

Retinoblastoma is a rare cancer of the retina which usually affects children under the age of five, although there have been a few cases where older children have been diagnosed. The cancer affects the retina, which is the light-sensitive lining of the eye. There are approximately eighty cases of retinoblastoma diagnosed in the UK each year. Treatment is effective, with 98% of all cases being cured, but treatment itself is often a traumatic experience both for the child and for their immediate family. Brian Barso is the father of Poppy Belle Barso, who was one of the UK children diagnosed with retinoblastoma. Brian Barso is in the process of setting up a charity, PoppyBelleDreams, to provide funding for families undergoing treatment for the cancer with funding to get away for rest and recuperation and to spend quality time together after treatment. There are two medically recognised forms of retinoblastoma – heritable and non-heritable. The heritable form of the disease accounts for around two in every five cases and is caused by a genetic abnormality. This abnormality can be passed on from a parent, or can happen spontaneously for the first time at an early stage of development in the womb. Children of parents known to carry the retinoblastoma gene will be screened for the cancer from birth and again every few months until they reach their fifth birthday. There are currently no known causes of the non-heritable form of the disease, which affects around three in five of all cases. Signs which could indicate retinoblastoma include a white pupil which does not reflect light, often picked up on in photographs, while some children may develop a squint or have a red, painful eye. Where a doctor believes retinoblastoma may be present, they can test by screening the child under general anaesthetic. In most cases, the cancer can be diagnosed visually with no need for a biopsy. If retinoblastoma is diagnosed the child will be sent for further tests to determine the exact size and location of the tumour and to ensure the cancer has not spread into surrounding structures. There are a variety of treatments for retinoblastoma depending on the size and position of the tumour and whether or not the cancer has spread. Smaller tumours may not require chemotherapy or radiotherapy unless there is a risk of the cancer spreading.

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