A mother who lost an eye to a rare form of cancer has spoken of her devastation after learning her baby has the same condition. Kalli McAllister, from Brecon, Powys, was diagnosed with retinoblastoma at seven months old, a cancer that affects the retina and is diagnosed in only about 60 people in the UK each year.
Ms McAllister, now 33, was on high alert when her daughter Autumn was born. Doctors caught the condition when Autumn was just eight weeks old, and she is responding well to treatment. While the cancer is successfully treated in 95% of cases, 40% of those affected lose an eye. Ms McAllister had one eye removed due to tumours, but radiotherapy saved the other.
'I was devastated to hear my baby had cancer,' said Ms McAllister. 'But everyone was so brilliant, it was the not knowing that was the scariest part.' She added: 'I survived it and have a great life so know there is a very positive side to this. Autumn only had to have laser treatment and the tumours have responded very well.'
Ms McAllister is currently pregnant, and her baby has a 50% chance of developing the cancer. Her eight-year-old son, Rafael, has been given the all clear. Both Ms McAllister and Autumn are donating stem cells to researchers at Newcastle University to help save the sight of others who need chemotherapy.
Dr Rubina Ahmed, who works with eye research charity Fight For Sight, which is funding the trial, said: 'Very young children won't be able to tell you if they've got a problem or they're having an issue with their eyes so it is really important for parents to be vigilant.'
