A mum has revealed the worryingly subtle sign her five-year-old daughter had eye cancer.
Elise Seal, from Birmingham, noticed Esmae’s right eye had turned from its usual green and brown colour to dark brown, while they were on holiday in June last year.
But it was only when they returned home days later she also spotted it had an unusual white ‘glow’.
The 25-year-old booked an opticians appointment for her then three-year-old, who was referred for further tests and checks.
Scans showed she had retinoblastoma — a rare type of eye cancer — which just 44 children in the UK and 300 in the US are diagnosed with every year.
Elise Seal, from Birmingham , noticed Esmae’s right eye had turned from its usual green and brown colour to dark brown, while they were on holiday in June last year
But it was only when they returned home days later she also spotted it had an unusual white ‘glow’. The 25-year-old booked an opticians appointment for her then three-year-old, who was referred for further tests and checks
Esmae, a ‘sassy little princess’, has now undergone surgery to remove her eye and six rounds of chemotherapy, however thankfully, is in remission.
Recalling her heartbreaking ordeal, Ms Seal said: ‘If you look at her now you wouldn’t think she had gone through something so big.
‘Esmae is always doing something. She is outgoing — she is just an amazing little girl.’
After spotting her eye colour change in Costa Brava, Spain, Ms Seal and her partner Callum Bissett, 26, noticed it was also bloodshot and put it down to chlorine.
She added: ‘We got home four days later and Esmae was at her grandma’s house.
‘Her grandma said her eye looked strange. As I went to go to her, the sun was in her eye and I noticed a white glow in her pupils.’
The optician referred her to Birmingham and Midland Eye Centre. Here, Ms Seal said, she was asked if there was a history of eye cancer in the family.
‘I knew then that it was really bad,’ she added.
Esmae was transferred again to Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital and just two days later she was diagnosed with retinoblastoma.
After spotting her eye colour change in Costa Brava, Spain, Ms Seal and her partner Callum Bissett, 26, noticed it was also bloodshot and put it down to chlorine
Esmae, a ‘sassy little princess’, has now undergone surgery to remove her eye and six rounds of chemotherapy, however thankfully, is in remission
Under stage E, the tumour extends near the front of the eye, is bleeding or causing high pressure inside the eye, meaning there is almost no chance the eye can be saved. Esmae, five, with her baby sister
‘They took us into a side room with tissues and a sofa — I knew at that moment,’ Ms Seal said.
‘They sat us down and said how she had retinoblastoma and it was at stage E.’
Under stage E, the tumour extends near the front of the eye, is bleeding or causing high pressure inside the eye, meaning there is almost no chance the eye can be saved.
‘They discussed the only treatment they could offer was an enucleation — a removal of the eye — as the tumour was so bad,’ Ms Seal added.
Around 40 to 50 youngsters in the UK, and 200 to 300 in the US, are diagnosed with retinoblastoma each year, which typically affects babies and children under six.
Retinoblastoma happens when retina eye cells — which are supposed to grow very quickly and then stop growing during a baby’s early development — continue to grow and form a cancer.
When the tumour forms, light reflects off the cancer’s white surface, causing the child’s dilated pupil to appear white in flash photos or dim light.
Its symptoms include an unusual white reflection in the pupil, a squint, a red or inflamed eye and poor vision.
Around 98 per cent of children survive retinoblastoma.
But the Childhood Eye Cancer Trust (CHECT) says early detection is crucial for saving sight and life.
Esmae had her right eye removed later in July, but just a month later in August was dealt another devastating blow.
Retinoblastoma happens when retina eye cells — which are supposed to grow very quickly and then stop growing during a baby’s early development — continue to grow and form a cancer
Esmae had her right eye removed later in July, but just a month later in August was dealt another devastating blow. Doctors had discovered cancer cells in her optic nerve during a biopsy after the eye was removed
Doctors had discovered cancer cells in her optic nerve during a biopsy after the eye was removed.
Ms Seal said: ‘Due to this, she had to have six rounds of intensive chemotherapy.
‘Callum and I were heartbroken.
‘They went through all the side effects of chemotherapy, and we were both so scared.
‘They even mentioned she would have trouble having babies in the future, so they offered to have one of Esmae’s ovaries removed and freeze her eggs for when she is older.
‘We just couldn’t believe our little girl would have to go through even more terrifying things.’
Esmae started chemotherapy that month which finished in December and also had her ovary removed during the autumn.
After finishing chemotherapy ‘we were all dancing and clapping’, Ms Seal added.
‘It was a huge weight off our shoulders that our little girl had accomplished something so big.’
Esmae, who turned five earlier this month has now also started school full-time.
Esmae started chemotherapy that month which finished in December and also had her ovary removed during the autumn. Pictured, Esmae on her fifth birthday
Ms Seal said: ‘She has an MRI scan every three months for the first year to double-check everything.
‘She is a happy, healthy, beautiful five-year-old girl.
‘She’s gone back into school full time now and enjoying the things she couldn’t do whilst having chemotherapy.
‘I am so proud that she is my daughter.’
Richard Ashton, chief executive of CHECT said: ‘Retinoblastoma is rare, with around one baby or young child being diagnosed in the UK each week.
‘Symptoms can be quite subtle, and children often seem well in themselves which can make it hard to diagnose.
‘In just under half of all cases, a child must have an eye removed as part of their treatment.
‘We are grateful that in Esmae’s case, her symptoms were recognised so that she could receive treatment.
‘If you are worried that a child you know may have retinoblastoma, please get them seen by a GP or optician ASAP.’
