Retinoblastoma (Rb) is a rapidly developing cancer which develops in the cells of the retina, the light sensitive cells of the eye. In the developed world, Rb has one of the best cure rates of all childhood cancers (95-98%), with more than nine out of every ten sufferers surviving into adulthood. Retinoblastoma is a very treatable cancer.
There are two forms of the disease; a genetic heritable form and a non-genetic non-heritable form. Approximately 55% of children with Rb have the non-genetic form. If there is no history of the disease within the family, the disease is labelled "sporadic", but this does not necessarily indicate that it is the non-genetic form. In about two thirds of cases, [1] only one eye is affected (unilateral retinoblastoma); in the other third, tumours develop in both eyes (bilateral retinoblastoma). The number and size of tumours on each eye may vary. The position, size and quantity of tumours are considered when choosing the type of treatment for the disease.
