Just Like Mummy

My little girl developed the same cancer I had 

- Cher Heasmer/Tracy Gayton

By Abi Wheatcroft, 33, from New Malden

I was just 6 weeks old when my parents got the news that I had retinoblastoma in both eyes. It’s a rare form of eye cancer in children. 

My mum Mandy, now 61, and dad Anthony, 62, were so upset.

It wasn’t a complete shock, though. Dad had the same cancer when he was a toddler. Although having treatment, sadly he lost both eyes and was completely blind.

When he and Mum had me, doctors wanted to run tests to see if I had the condition, too.

I had laser treatment and brachytherapy which involved inserting radioactive plaques over the tumours.

Incredibly, I beat the cancer and my eyesight was OK.

Growing up, I didn’t think about the condition and, in 2002, I met Paul.

Like most couples, we talked about having children – and Mum said I should speak to a doctor to see if our children might suffer from retinoblastoma.