Retinoblastoma Case Studies
Retinoblastoma is a rare form of childhood cancer that develops in the eye. It develops from the retina, the most inner part of the eye. This tumor has the potential to be fatal by getting into the brain or spreading to other organs in the body. Retinoblastoma affects infants and young children. It affects 70-80% of one eye and only 20-30% in both. Retinoblastoma usually occurs out of the blue. The childs pediatrician would normally detect it within the first year, however there are cases that the pediatrician didn’t and the child lost one eye or both. One of the ways to detect this cancer is that it will look like there is a mirror in the eye, this is called, “cat eye”. Another way is if the eye is lazy or wondering around. If this is seen in the eye then an MRI will be giving to make sure that it is Retinoblastoma. Retinoblastoma can be inherited or formed in a child that has gene that has been genetically mutated.
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Once the child has been diagnosed then chemotherapy or radiation is started right away for the childs safety.
There are several different forms of chemotherapy depending on the severity of the tumor or tumors. If it is only in one eye (retinoblastoma) then chances are the eye can be saved by chemo treatments. If it is both eyes (bitateral retinoblastoma) then chemo and radiation are involved, also surgery. If it happens to be both eyes and in the brain (trilateral retinoblastoma) then a lot more chemo and radiation and more surgeries. In some cases where chemo or radiation doesn’t work then the eye or eyes have to be enucleated (removed). There are risks with enucleating the eyes from infection to not being able to wear a prosthetic
eye.
After the childs eye or eyes have healed then they are fitted for their new prosthetic eye. The Ocular Doctor that makes the eyes will make them the same color that the infected eyes were. They also add veins to the eye to try to make it look as real as they can. But before the child can get fitted for the prosthetic eyes they have to wear a clear plastic piece until the eye has healed. After they get their new eye it will give the child better self esteem. Because will the child is wearing the clear piece people will look and stare and talk about the child and that kind of stuff can bring a child down. They just want to be like everyone else so when they get their new eye or eyes then they feel better about their selves.
They will have to go see the Oncologist every six months for about four or five more years so they can get a check-up. The doctors have to give the child MRI’s to see if the cancer came back they also will do blood work and if anything is out of the ordinary they will call and let the parents know so other procedures can be done. It is a sad situation when your child has to lose their eye sight but you do want your child to be healthy and if that means for your child to be blind for the rest of their life then so be it. The child will be better off without the cancer and no parent wants their child to be blind but things happen and the child will adapt.
If you as a parent ever find yourself in this situation then there are people that you can talk to your priest, a counselor, or if you have family that might be better to talk to them Trust me you can’t handle this by yourself, get someone and talk to them it’s for the best. You will get through this, I did.
Once the child has been diagnosed then chemotherapy or radiation is started right away for the childs safety.
There are several different forms of chemotherapy depending on the severity of the tumor or tumors. If it is only in one eye (retinoblastoma) then chances are the eye can be saved by chemo treatments. If it is both eyes (bitateral retinoblastoma) then chemo and radiation are involved, also surgery. If it happens to be both eyes and in the brain (trilateral retinoblastoma) then a lot more chemo and radiation and more surgeries. In some cases where chemo or radiation doesn’t work then the eye or eyes have to be enucleated (removed). There are risks with enucleating the eyes from infection to not being able to wear a prosthetic
eye.
After the childs eye or eyes have healed then they are fitted for their new prosthetic eye. The Ocular Doctor that makes the eyes will make them the same color that the infected eyes were. They also add veins to the eye to try to make it look as real as they can. But before the child can get fitted for the prosthetic eyes they have to wear a clear plastic piece until the eye has healed. After they get their new eye it will give the child better self esteem. Because will the child is wearing the clear piece people will look and stare and talk about the child and that kind of stuff can bring a child down. They just want to be like everyone else so when they get their new eye or eyes then they feel better about their selves.
They will have to go see the Oncologist every six months for about four or five more years so they can get a check-up. The doctors have to give the child MRI’s to see if the cancer came back they also will do blood work and if anything is out of the ordinary they will call and let the parents know so other procedures can be done. It is a sad situation when your child has to lose their eye sight but you do want your child to be healthy and if that means for your child to be blind for the rest of their life then so be it. The child will be better off without the cancer and no parent wants their child to be blind but things happen and the child will adapt.
If you as a parent ever find yourself in this situation then there are people that you can talk to your priest, a counselor, or if you have family that might be better to talk to them Trust me you can’t handle this by yourself, get someone and talk to them it’s for the best. You will get through this, I did.