I'm Riding For

Ben Bonneau

Xavier was diagnosed with unilateral retinoblastoma at 13 months old. Travel to Toronto was required for his treatment which included the removal of the effected eye and examinations under anesthesia every 6 weeks for the following year. Xavier caries the rb gene mutation which is hereditary and could be passed down to his children. He is lucky to have never had a tumor develop is his remaining eye and is considered in the clear since turning 7 years old. Although rare,“ Retinoblastoma is the most common type of eye cancer in children” (cancer.ca). In Canada, about 23 children per year are diagnosed with rb. When detected early, it can be treated. The easiest way to detect rb early on is with flash photography. A red reflexe is a good sign! Rb will give a whitish-yellowish reflection.