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One sign can catch a childhood cancer long before symptoms and it is easily picked up on a baby monitor
07:41, 09 Jun 2026 Updated 07:52, 09 Jun 2026
Parents are being urged to check their baby monitor "tonight" as it could give a clue to a potentially deadly cancer . Tonyheartseducation, run by former New Zealand paramedic Nikki Jurcutz, has posted a video on instagram with the caption: " If you see this on the baby monitor get it checked urgently."
It goes on to explain the reason could be life-saving. It said: " Go check your baby monitor tonight. This one sign can catch a childhood cancer long before any other symptom s, and every time we post this we have at least one parent reaching out to say it made them look, and what they found changed everything."
The video, showing a baby in a crib, highlights a clear issue that would not show up to the naked eye. The experts said: "A mum noticed one of her baby’s eyes looked pitch black on the monitor at night.
"His right eye reflected the infrared light like normal. His left was completely dark. That tiny detail led to a diagnosis of retinoblastoma, a rare childhood eye cancer. Because she caught it early, doctors were able to save both his eye and his life."
The expert also went on to tell what parents should see when they check on their baby. They said: "On the monitor at night, both eyes should reflect the infrared light back the same way. If one glows and the other stays dark, don’t wait, have your little one assessed. The same goes for flash photos, if one eye comes up white instead of the normal red.
"An eye that reflects light differently is not always cancer. It can be a cataract, or a handful of other things, and a lot of the time it’s something very treatable. But it always needs checking, because every now and then it’s the first sign of something where catching it early changes everything."
What is retinoblastoma?
According to the NHS retinoblastoma is a rare type of eye cancer that can affect young children. It affects the retina, which is at the back of the eye.
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It usually affects children under three years old and can be in one or both eyes. The NHS adds: "Treatments are available and it can usually be treated successfully if it's found early."
Symptoms of retinoblastoma
The NHS said retinoblastoma can affect 1 or both eyes. The main symptom is a white glow or white reflection in the centre of the eye (pupil).
You may be able to see it from just looking at the eye, or you may see it in low light or in photos where a flash has been used. Other symptoms of retinoblastoma can include:
the eyes pointing in a different direction ( squint )
the coloured part of the eye (iris) changing colour
swelling around the eye
uncontrolled eye movements
vision problems
pain in 1 or both eyes
Your child may otherwise seem well.
When to see a GP
Ask for an urgent GP appointment or call NHS 111 if:
Article continues below
you notice a white glow or white reflection in the centre of your child's eye (pupil), which you may notice in low lighting or in photos using a flash
your child's eye is swollen
you think your child is having problems with their vision
your child has a painful eye
your child has uncontrolled eye movements
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