When Viviana Palomera was diagnosed with retinoblastoma (Rb), a rare but curable eye cancer that most often appears in young children, she could not have imagined that her journey would one day help change how this disease is understood and detected across Chile.
Viviana faced the many challenges that come with such a diagnosis, navigating complex treatments and emotional uncertainty with courage and determination. Her experience gave her a profound sense of purpose, inspiring her to help others facing similar struggles and to ensure that future generations benefit from earlier detection and stronger support.
This October, as KnowTheGlow launches its digital awareness campaign in Chile, Viviana’s story is helping to open new doors. Her advocacy led to an introduction between KTG and leaders at Chile’s Ministry of Health (Ministerio de Salud de Chile), bringing together medical experts and policymakers to strengthen early detection and education across the country.
Through Viviana’s connection, KTG met Dr. Sung Hyuk Kim, who oversees ANACAN, Chile’s National Childhood Cancer Program, along with María Paz Lavin and Camila Aranda, representatives from the Ministry of Health. Together, this dedicated team is exploring ways to expand awareness about The Glow and to ensure that parents, healthcare providers, and communities have access to clear, reliable information.
Chile has already made significant progress in the fight against retinoblastoma. Each year, about 15 new cases are detected and treated through the Luis Calvo Mackenna Hospital, the country’s national referral center for Rb. The National Child Health Program ensures that every child receives red-reflex testing from birth through age nine at primary care centers, allowing for early referrals and faster treatment. Under Chile’s National Health Law, enacted in 2005, treatment for retinoblastoma is covered for up to ten years following diagnosis. This comprehensive approach has contributed to an 80 percent survival rate, one of the highest in the region.
Dr. Kim and his team, including Camila Aranda, Head of Communications for ANACAN, explained that their outreach relies on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Working with partners like PAHO (Pan American Health Organization), they design campaigns that use simple, clear messages to help parents and caregivers recognize early warning signs like the white reflex, ensuring that children are seen promptly by a specialist.
KnowTheGlow’s collaboration with Chile’s Ministry of Health and ANACAN will help amplify these existing efforts by sharing proven awareness materials and uniting under a common goal: to ensure that no child’s sight is lost to a preventable condition.
For Viviana, this partnership embodies both progress and hope. Having lived through the challenges of retinoblastoma herself, she understands deeply how powerful awareness can be. Her greatest motivation is knowing that by sharing her story, others may recognize the warning signs earlier and seek care in time. Every step forward, she believes, turns her own experience into a force for change and a source of light for others.
As Chile joins the KnowTheGlow movement this October, Viviana’s strength and advocacy stand as a powerful reminder that one survivor’s voice can inspire national change, and that together, awareness truly saves sight.
