A photo montage of three children with white pupil glow and turned eye early signs of retinoblastoma.

Retinoblastoma Awareness, Screening and Early Detection at One Rb World

Retinoblastoma awareness is the vital first step to cure! Early diagnosis leads to less intense treatment and better outcomes for children and their families. Sessions at every One Rb World explore how we can best raise parent, public and medical community awareness of common first signs, and develop effective screening for early detection.  Abby White gathers together sessions from the 2017, 2020, and 2021 meetings.

A male African doctor looks on as a female surgeon uses a handheld digital camera to examine a boy's eye during an exam under anaesthesia. Both doctors wear surgical scrubs, masks, gloves, and caps. A laptop computer sits open beside the female doctor, but the images projected from the camera onto its screen are not visible in the photo.

TNM Staging System for Retinoblastoma

Retinoblastoma is staged to help doctors describe the extent of cancer in a child’s body, define potential for cure, vision and eye salvage, identify the best treatments, and compare impact of different therapies. Dr. Ashwin Mallipatna explains the TNM Staging System for Retinoblastoma and why it is the best approach for patient care.

An ethnically diverse group of people sit together around a table, moving puzzle pieces. The photo is taken from above, and only the hands of the participants are visible.

Retinoblastoma Research: Types, Challenges, Opportunities

Retinoblastoma research is vital to understand how this cancer behaves; treatment benefits, side effects, and risks; and impacts throughout life.  Findings help guide medical and supportive care for the child patient, survivor, and family.  Rb Survivor, Abby White explores different types of medical research; their goals, benefits, and limitations; and opportunities to overcome the current challenges.

A faded portrait of a toddler Marissa and her grandmother, sitting together on outdoor steps.

Living With Vision Loss: Challenges and Changing Perspectives

For many survivors of bilateral retinoblastoma, vision changes throughout life. This may be due to treatment late effects, eye health, or other medical events. World Eye Cancer Hope USA President and founding board member, Marissa D. Gonzalez, recounts her journey with vision loss during two different seasons of life, and her difficult course with acquired blindness as an adult after decades of good sight.

Damian lies on a hospital bed, wearing a blue t-shirt with a red and yellow Team Damian logo that resembles the brand of his hero, Spiderman. He is bald and is smiling at the camera.

Under-Treatment and Over-Treatment of Retinoblastoma

Retinoblastoma care is a complex balancing act.  Some children receive too little treatment, while others receive more than necessary, with potentially devastating results.  Rb survivor and WE C Hope CEO, Abby White explores what under- and over-treatment are, when they may happen, their consequences, and how we can prevent them to ensure every child has the best chance of cure.

Fire Poppies – vibrant golden petals and green leaves brighten a scorched landscape.

8 Ways to Heal Survivor Guilt

Anyone affected by retinoblastoma can experience survivor guilt – child and adult survivors, siblings, parents, grandparents, and others. WE C Hope CEO and Rb Survivor Abby White concludes this four-part series on Survivor Guilt with 8 practical suggestions to help acknowledge, move through, and heal from the destructive emotions that fuel survivor guilt.

Understanding Survivor Guilt

Survivor guilt of some kind is an almost universal experience for individuals affected by retinoblastoma – survivors and siblings of all ages, parents, grandparents, and others. Continuing our four-part series on Survivor Guilt, WE C Hope CEO and Rb Survivor Abby White explores the causes, risk factors, and underlying emotions.

an anchor tethers a bright red hot air balloon floating in a grey sky.

7 Ways Retinoblastoma Families and Survivors Experience Survivor Guilt – part 2

Anyone affected by retinoblastoma can experience survivor guilt – survivors and siblings of all ages, parents, grandparents, partners, and others.  WE C Hope CEO and Rb Survivor Abby White continues to explore the many ways in which family members experience survivor guilt, and the potential impacts during treatment and throughout life.

A red butterfly is reflected in water as it hovers above, against a pale blue sky.

7 Ways Retinoblastoma Families and Survivors Experience Survivor Guilt – part 1

The life-changing experience of retinoblastoma can weave a legacy of survivor guilt that may affect anyone in the family – child and adult survivors, siblings, parents, grandparents, and others.  WE C Hope CEO and Rb Survivor Abby White highlights the many ways in which family members experience survivor guilt, and the potential impacts during treatment and throughout life.

Text reads “Retinoblastoma Treatment Decisions 12 Step Guide”. The background is a blue painted wood table. To the right of the text, a pen rests on the blank open page of a notebook. Around the notebook sits a pair of glasses, a cup of coffee, and a small plant with green leaves.

Planning Your Child’s Eye Cancer Care: A Step-by-Step Guide to Confident Treatment Decisions

Parents face many decisions about their child’s retinoblastoma treatment. The experience can be complex, highly emotive, and stressful. WE C Hope CEO Abby White introduces our new comprehensive guide to making treatment decisions, a tool to help parents navigate the process and make the best choices at every stage of their child’s eye cancer journey.