Free care expands survival chances for poor families. Cousin marriages fuel hidden child eye cancer crisis
\n RAWALPINDI
\nFor hundreds of families bringing their children to Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital, the biggest fear is not only cancer, but whether delayed treatment has reduced the chances of saving their child\u2019s eyesight and recovery.
\nDoctors at the hospital\u2019s Cancer Unit said nearly 140 children treated over the past three years are now free of cancer, a milestone they described as significant in a country where childhood eye cancer is often diagnosed at advanced stages.
\nThe hospital said it has registered 620 cancer patients and conducted 3,952 chemotherapy sessions since the unit became operational. Many patients came from low-income and rural families where awareness, transport costs and delayed referrals remain major barriers to treatment.
\nPediatric oncologist Dr Tanzeela Farah said many parents fail to recognise early warning signs of eye cancer, including a white glow in a child\u2019s eye in photographs or poor eye contact. \u201cIf detected early, many children can survive and even retain their vision,\u201d she told reporters.
\nShe advised parents to use a mobile phone torch to check newborns and infants for unusual white reflections in the pupil, medically known as leukocoria, which can indicate retinoblastoma, the most common eye cancer in children.
\nDoctors at the hospital also warned that cousin marriages can contribute to inherited eye diseases and some childhood cancers in Pakistan, where consanguineous marriages remain common.
\nStudies show many retinoblastoma patients reach hospitals in advanced stages because of delayed diagnosis, lack of awareness and financial hardship.
\nGlobal data shows survival rates for retinoblastoma exceed 99% in high-income countries with early screening and specialised care, but can fall to nearly 50% in poorer countries because children arrive late for treatment.
\nTo reduce costs for poor families, Al-Shifa said it partnered with institutions including the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology and Combined Military Hospital for diagnostic tests and radiotherapy support. Several deserving patients also received radiotherapy free of cost.
\nFor many families, doctors said, timely treatment meant saving both eyesight and life. \u201cEye cancer in children is treatable,\u201d Dr Tanzeela said. \u201cThe real danger is delayed diagnosis.\u201d
\nAl-Shifa Trust runs seven hospitals across Rawalpindi, Sukkur, Kohat, Muzaffarabad, Chakwal, Gilgit, and Haveli Lakha while Asia\u2019s biggest eye hospital is being constructed at Lahore.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Free care expands survival chances for poor families. Cousin marriages fuel hidden child eye cancer crisis RAWALPINDI For hundreds of families bringing their children to Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital, the biggest fear is not only cancer, but whether delayed treatment has reduced the chances of saving their child\u2019s eyesight and recovery. Doctors at the hospital\u2019s […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":545934,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-545916","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-national"},"yoast_head":"\n