Using the flash on her phone’s camera, a London woman claims to have been able to identify her infant son’s rare cancer. In November 2022, Sarah Hedges, a support worker from Kent, noticed a “white glow” in her three-month-old son’s eye while she was preparing dinner. Her description of the strange glow as reflecting light “like a cat’s eye”. She used her phone’s flash to take pictures in an attempt to identify the object again.
On the first attempt, Ms Hedges, 40, was unable to see the white glow again and wondered whether it was just the lighting. However, the doubt never left her conscience so she moved her son, Thomas, around in different rooms near lighting and eventually saw it again.
Ms Hedges then immediately turned to Google for more help. Her search results suggested that her son might have cancer. She took more photos and went to the doctor who directed her to Medway Hospital for further examination.
The three-month-old baby was indeed diagnosed with retinoblastoma, a rare and aggressive form of eye cancer that affects babies and young children, the outlet reported. “The doctor called us back into his room to discuss the results. I was in the bathroom. When I came out, he was waiting for me. I knew then it wasn’t good news – no doctor waits for someone outside the toilet, do they?” she recounted.
“Before he said anything I asked, ‘Is it cancer?’ and he said, ‘I’m sorry, it’s not good news,'” she continued.
The Royal London Hospital received a referral for Thomas. Beginning in November of 2022, he underwent six rounds of chemotherapy. He battled sepsis and was declared cancer-free in May 2023, having completed his last round of chemotherapy in April.
According to Sarah Hedges, Thomas is making a full recovery. According to her, he is a “cheeky little boy” who enjoys playing rough with his bigger brother.
According to the National Health Service (NHS), retinoblastoma is a rare type of eye cancer that can affect young children, mostly affecting children under three years of age. It affects the retina, which is located in the back of the eye, and can affect one or both eyes. Often, only one sign or symptom of retinoblastoma is present, but typical symptoms include a white glow that may only appear in certain lights, a squint, a change in the appearance of the eye, and a swollen eye.
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