Young Wilchi Paddy Kapin was diagnosed with Retinoblastoma (Cancer in the eye) in his right eye on the 9th February, 2023 at the Port Moresby General Hospital.
Retinoblastoma is the second most common cancer in children and it affects children under the age of 5. Wilchi was born a healthy baby and in January at just a year old, his mother noticed that he had something like ‘cats-eye’ so she took him to be examined at St John and then referred to an eye specialist at the Port Moresby General Hospital.
This is where WIlchi’s parents were informed that 60% of his right eye was covered by the cancerous tumor. Since he was unable to talk, they weren’t sure at first if he could see through his right eye. Wilchi’s Mother, Normajean Gapi said that he had the first chemotherapy cycle on February 22nd and that went well.
“Wilchi was supposed to have another cycle on March 22nd however we were sent home with antibiotics as he had developed fever and flu.”
“He had his second cycle a few weeks later, but he has only had 2 of the 3 drugs that he needs.”
“The hospital only had one of the drugs and we had to source the second one from a private pharmacy.”
Normajean said that they will be hosting a BBQ fundraiser on the the 22nd of April to start raising funds to cover his treatment and logistics.
She added that the most children with retinoblastoma have had their eye removed and she doesn’t want that for her son. Once he completes his 6 months treatment, the doctor will give them options on whether to have his eye removed or go overseas for treatment to save his eye. She is hoping they will raise enough so if he does need to go overseas they won’t need to do last minute fundraising.
Meanwhile, Paediatrician Dr Benjamin Daur said at the children’s cancer ward at POMGEN, they have about 7 children with retinoblastoma who are currently undergoing treatment. He highlighted that there are 4 stages;
• Stage I: The tumor is only in the eye and the cancer can be treated by removing the eye. No cancer cells remain after treatment.
•Stage II: The tumor is only in the eye. Cancer cells remain after the eye has been removed, but the cells are so small they only appear under a microscope.
• Stage III: The cancer spreads to tissues surrounding the eye socket which causes the eye to swell Or it spreads to lymph nodes in the neck or ear Lymph causing them to swell aswell.
• Stage IV: The cancer spreads to other parts of the body. Cancer that spreads may affect the bones or liver or the brain or spinal cord.
“Most parents bring their children in when the child is in stage 3 or 4 and thats when we have to remove the eye.”
“The chances of the cancer spreading is high when they are in their late stages and we lost children when the cancer spreads to other parts of the body like the brain.”
“Children must be brought in early so we can treat them early.”
“These children go through treatment for 7-8months inclusive of chemotherapy cycles and surgery.”
“Once they (Children) have undone surgery, we ask them to come for review for the next 5yrs so we make sure that the cancer hasn’t come back.”
Dr Daur added that shortage of drugs are short at this time as most the drugs have expired and they have had to ask parents to buy from private hospitals and pharmacies while they wait for the hospitals supplies to arrive sometime this month.
He further added that POMGEN is able to treat cancers in children but there are some cases where parents want specialist treatment then they are able to do so overseas.