THIS LITTLE BOY is at risk of losing his eye to cancer over the next few weeks – just like his big brother did four years ago.
Cian Teeling (5) from Mornington in Co Meath has been battling retinoblastoma – a childhood cancer that causes tumours to grow behind his eyes – since he was just six months old.
He and his brother Jack (8) were diagnosed with the potentially fatal condition within a day of one another back in 2010.
Jack lost his right eye to the disease but is now cancer free. He is still checked a number of times a year in case of a re-occurrence.
But Cian – who should be enjoying his first few days back in school but is instead recovering from yet another gruelling and painful laser session at Temple Street Children’s Hospital in Dublin – still has tumours and could lose his eye over the coming weeks unless they’re kept at bay.
In the meantime, the brave five year old has set his heart on meeting wrestling hero, John Cena, when he goes to see him in the 3 Arena on 4 November.
“The boys were diagnosed within a day of each other,” remembers their mother Gráinne.
“Jack was three and Cian was six months old. It was an absolute nightmare. At the very beginning they both had chemo, laser, cryo therapy – which is basically like freezing of the eye – at Temple Street and Crumlin.
That went on for nearly a year. When they got the tumour small enough did major lasering on Jack.
She added:
You outgrow the cancer eventually – it’s just a battle to save the eyes in the meantime. There’s a 98% survival rate if it’s caught on time but if it’s not it can be fatal because the tumours grow so quickly and can spread to the brain and spinal chord.
After his initial treatment for the disease, Cian went into remission but the cancer has returned five times since 2011.
Gráinne said: “At the moment, the tumour only needs to be lasered and cryoed but they are considering taking his eye out. The new tumour is in a dangerous position. He may lose his eye in two weeks’ time, it’s very touch and go.
“Our doctor has to talk to the specialists in Canada but we think he can only do about two more laser sessions on it.”
Every few weeks, Cian has to undergo a general anaesthetic for the treatment which leaves his eye swollen and painful.
“We bought tickets for the wrestling in the 3 Arena in November but we would love to meet John Cena – Cian is a huge fan,” continues his mother.
“It would be a dream come true for him it meet him. I tell him all the time after his treatment that he’s like John Cena because he will have a big, swollen and bruised eye.
“He takes it all in his stride because of that and is so brave all the time. He would really love the chance to meet him and speak to him back stage before or after the show. If anyone can help, we’d love to hear from them.”
Because of all his gruelling procedures over the years, Cian now suffers from croup and chest problems. Doctors also believe his speech and language development may have been affected but it’s not been confirmed that the two are connected.
We discovered after they were diagnosed that it’s genetic. But there have been more and more cases of this type of cancer – they don’t know why. A lot of GPs don’t know what to look for either.
It was Jack who had been diagnosed first, when his mum noticed a white reflection on his pupil under certain lights.
We thought he had conjunctivitis – he had no signs no symptoms. We hadn’t noticed anything wrong with him. He was in no pain. I had two very healthy children as far as I was concerned.
Jack had to have his right eye removed and he now wears a prosthetic.
“He’s coped really well,” Grainne said. “Neither of them can see through their right eyes and can’t remember ever being able to do so.”
September is Children’s Cancer Awareness Month and Gráinne wants everyone to make themselves aware of the signs and symptoms of the disease. She is doing a parachute jump to raise awareness.
“My boys might not be here if it hadn’t been caught early,” she said.
I’m so grateful. We would love a document to be done and given to women who give birth on day in hospital in the info pack they’re given in hospital. It’s so, so important.”
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