Camera Flash Detected Baby's Rare Eye Cancer

A mother from Scottsdale, Arizona was able to save the life of her 4-month-old son when she noticed something on his son's eye every time she takes his pictures. Turns out, little Ryder Temarantz has a rare eye cancer.

ABC News reported on the extraordinary way that Andrea Temarantz discovered her son's eye cancer. In an interview with ABC News, Andrea shares how she noticed a lingering white glow on Ryder's left eye when camera flashes are used.

She first noticed the unusual white glow as she was scanning through the photos of Ryder in early January. At that time, she blamed it on bad camera phone.

However, when Andrea, 36, used a new Nikon D3300 DSLR that her cousin gave her for Christmas, the camera's flash revealed the same glow she had seen on previous photos. She then decided to take Ryder to his doctor.

When Andrea took Ryder for his four-month checkup, she mentioned the irregularity to his pediatrician. Within 24 hours, she was referred to specialist who would give Ryder a closer examination. On Jan. 6, Ryder was diagnosed with a rare eye cancer called retinoblastoma in his left eye.

According to 13WMAZ, cancer was very far from what Andrea was expecting. Retinoblastoma is a type of cancer commonly found in children. In the United States, about 200-300 patients are diagnosed suffering from this eye cancer each year, according to the American Cancer Society.

The news site added that retinoblastoma is usually discovered by parents or relatives and brought up during routine check-ups. Sadly, screenings are not widely recommended. So Andrea and her husband, Joey, took their little son to Phoenix Children's Hospital where they learned more about cancer.

And that Ryder already has a grade C tumor.

New York Daily News reported that Andrea and Joseph were given by two choices to treat Ryder's illness: they could either remove the left eye or give little Ryder intravenous chemotherapy. With the latter treatment, there's a high risk that Ryder, who reportedly has Down Syndrome, would develop another cancer. Then, the children's hospital referred the parents to a team of physicians who specialize in retinoblastoma at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City.

Dr. David H. Abramson, chief of the Ophthalmic Oncology Service, introduced a special treatment for this cancer over nine years ago. He has already treated a handful of cases similar to Ryders.

The treatment is less invasive and more effective. According to Abramson, the center was able to save 95 percent of the eyes treated. It involves passing a thin small tube through the baby's groin. The doctors then administer less than a teaspoon of chemotherapy directly to the eye.

With 99 percent of chance of recovery from retinoblastoma, Abramson believes little Ryder's treatment will be successful. Following the diagnosis, Ryder will still undergo three more treatments every four weeks.

Check out the video below for simple way to detect the eye cancer: