Mother reveals ‘lazy eye’ was first symptom of daughter’s cancer

Sign up to our free Living Well email for advice on living a happier, healthier and longer life Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. After weeks of testing, in January 2021, Isla was confirmed to have retinoblastoma – a rare eye cancer that typically affects children under six – in her right eye. “Isla was sitting on my knee facing away from me, but with her left eye covered, I could see that her right eye couldn’t focus on anything and was moving about all over the place. "She also had a port fitted into her chest to make it easier for the chemotherapy to be administered, and for regular blood samples to be taken.” open image in gallery Isla was diagnosed with retinoblastoma – a rare eye cancer that typically affects children under six – in her right eye Isla contracted multiple infections during the six rounds of chemotherapy she received, which meant multiple stays in hospital, but fortunately, the tumour shrank. Isla has also been left with slight reduced vision in her right eye, which Rebecca reveals was not obvious before: “Sometimes she struggles with walking down steps and her balance, but it is only when her left eye is patched to help with the vision in her right eye that you can really notice.” Isla has been praised for her bravery and in 2022 she was even awarded a CHECT Champion award from the Childhood Eye Cancer Trust.