Updated on Mar 2nd 2012 at 2:13 PM from the JustGiving API

Please please donate to help me fundraise for CLIC Sargent

Updated on Feb 10th 2012 at 8:43 PM from the JustGiving API

Only at £45.00 please help me reach my target

Updated on Jan 1st 2012 at 10:49 AM from the JustGiving API

I need to reach a target of £500 and then I will shave all my hair off

Our little angel Lillia was diagnosed with a rare childhood cancer on 25th October 2011, she was only 22 months old at the time. The cancer is called Retinoblastoma (see below for more info) 

Her treatment has been chemotherapy, (JOE) and to date she has had 3 cycles, each of these has been different. The first cycle seemed to go fine, but since then she has had a blood transfusion, a six day stay in hospital have antibotics, she had to have an NG tube fitted as she was not eating and her weight dropped rapidly. We have to feed her 4 times daily using a pump. We are staying strong for her. We have been gaining awareness through newspaper articles and featuring on local news. I would now like to start raising money for CLIC Sargent who have helped us so much.

Retinoblastoma (Rb) is a fast growing eye cancer of early childhood. This cancer develops in the cells of the retina, the light sensitive lining of the eye (see diagram). In the UK about 98% of children survive their retinoblastoma; this is true for both unilateral and bilateral disease. Nearly all of those with unilateral disease survive without further tumour. For those with bilateral disease there is, as explained in the section on 'second primary tumours', a risk that another type of tumour will develop in later life. Retinoblastoma has one of the best cure rates of all the cancers which develop in children.

Retinoblastoma occurs in two forms: a 'genetic' or 'heritable' form and a non-genetic, non-heritable form. Approximately 45% of children with retinoblastoma have the heritable form of the disease. When there is no previous family history of retinoblastoma, the disease is called sporadic.

In about two thirds of children, only one eye is affected, but in one third tumours develop in both eyes. When only one eye is affected, this is known as unilateral retinoblastoma, and when both eyes are affected it is called bilateral retinoblastoma. In some children who only have one eye affected at diagnosis, particularly those who are very young, it is possible for a tumour to develop in the second eye several weeks or even months after the diagnosis of retinoblastoma in the first eye.

The number of tumours found in the eye also varies: sometimes only one tumour develops however, there can be several tumours, and these may require more than one type of treatment.

Take a look at http://www.chect.org.uk/ to see our stories or take a look at our facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lillias-RetinoblastomaRare-Childhood-Eye-Cancer-Awareness-Page/199628316778710