Retinoblastoma
What is it?
Retinoblastoma is a type of eye cancer that affects very young children. In very rare circumstances retinoblastoma can also affect adults as well.
Retinoblastoma affects the part of the eye called the retina. The retina is a layer of tissue inside of the eye at the back that senses light as it comes in.
While retinoblastoma is really rare, it is the most common eye cancer among young children usually under 5 years old.
Hereditary retinoblastoma
While it is not always the case, 25-40% of cases are from a mutation the child has in a gene called RB1 which is usually passed from one of the parents to the child.
If the child is diagnosed with this type of retinoblastoma, called hereditary retinoblastoma, it is usually found before he or she turns 1 years old.
Sporadic retinoblastoma
If the parent has not passed down a genetic mutation, the cancer is called sporadic retinoblastoma, which accounts for the majority of the cases.
This is where a single cell will mutate and multiply, turning into a cancerous (malignant) tumor.
What are the types?
There are three types of retinoblastoma:
- unilateral retinoblastoma
- biateral retinoblastoma
- PNET (primitive neuroectodermal tumors) retinoblastoma
Unilateral retinoblastoma is where the cancer affects one eye and is usually found in children that have sporadic cancer.
Bilateral retinoblastoma is cancer affecting both eyes and is usually found in hereditary cases, meaning that it is usually found before the age of 1.
Lastly, PNET retinoblastoma is extremely rare, affecting only 5% of children with hereditary retinoblastoma. This is when the cancer affects both eyes as well as some nerve cells in the brain. PNET retinoblasoma can also be called trilateral retinoblastoma.
How can I check if my child has this?
Children with inherited gene mutation passed down from his or her parents should get genetic testing and have regular eye check ups to test for retinoblastoma.
In addition as they get older they may be more likely to develop other types of cancers, so the medical professional will probably have your child do regular screening for other cancers.
Diagnosis
To diagnose retinoblastoma, the doctor will perform an eye exam and then have imaging scans done. These scans can be an ultrasound, MRI or CT usually, which can help get a better picture of any growths around the eye.
Chemotherapy
Treatment for retinoblastoma will usually include chemotherapy.
Chemotherapy can be injected in the body through a vein, such as the arm or chest, or can be taken in a pill form via the mouth. This is usually used to shrink the size of the tumor in order for other treatments to get rid of any remaining cancer cells.
There are also two different techniques called intra-arterial chemotherapy and intravitreal chemotherapy. In intra-arterial the chemo is inserted directly into the tumor through a small tube. In intravitreal the chemo is injected into the eye. Both of these types of chemotherapy are usually used if other treatments are not working as well as the doctors would like.
Radiation
Radiation can also be used to treat retinoblastoma. A small disc containing radiation can be inserted into the body near the tumor that lets off radiation over a few days can be used, or a beam of radiation can be used to target the tumor from outside of the body.
Because of its location, a beam of radiation (external beam radiation) will only be used in advanced stages of the cancer because of the risk it has being close to the brain.
Other common treatment
Other common therapies for retinoblastoma are laser therapy and cryotherapy (freezing treatment). Both lasers and cold therapies can effectively kill cancer cells.
Lastly, surgery can be used if the tumor can not be treated with other treatments. Surgery for retinoblastoma will probably include eye removal, and an eye implant fitted. After this an artificial eye can be placed over the implant after it has had time to heal.
Ask your doctor what about treatment options and what treatment is best for your child's case.
What is it?
Retinoblastoma is a type of eye cancer that affects very young children. In very rare circumstances retinoblastoma can also affect adults as well.
Retinoblastoma affects the part of the eye called the retina. The retina is a layer of tissue inside of the eye at the back that senses light as it comes in.
While retinoblastoma is really rare, it is the most common eye cancer among young children usually under 5 years old.
Hereditary retinoblastoma
While it is not always the case, 25-40% of cases are from a mutation the child has in a gene called RB1 which is usually passed from one of the parents to the child.
If the child is diagnosed with this type of retinoblastoma, called hereditary retinoblastoma, it is usually found before he or she turns 1 years old.
Sporadic retinoblastoma
If the parent has not passed down a genetic mutation, the cancer is called sporadic retinoblastoma, which accounts for the majority of the cases.
This is where a single cell will mutate and multiply, turning into a cancerous (malignant) tumor.
What are the types?
There are three types of retinoblastoma:
- unilateral retinoblastoma
- biateral retinoblastoma
- PNET (primitive neuroectodermal tumors) retinoblastoma
Unilateral retinoblastoma is where the cancer affects one eye and is usually found in children that have sporadic cancer.
Bilateral retinoblastoma is cancer affecting both eyes and is usually found in hereditary cases, meaning that it is usually found before the age of 1.
Lastly, PNET retinoblastoma is extremely rare, affecting only 5% of children with hereditary retinoblastoma. This is when the cancer affects both eyes as well as some nerve cells in the brain. PNET retinoblasoma can also be called trilateral retinoblastoma.
How can I check if my child has this?
Children with inherited gene mutation passed down from his or her parents should get genetic testing and have regular eye check ups to test for retinoblastoma.
In addition as they get older they may be more likely to develop other types of cancers, so the medical professional will probably have your child do regular screening for other cancers.
Diagnosis
To diagnose retinoblastoma, the doctor will perform an eye exam and then have imaging scans done. These scans can be an ultrasound, MRI or CT usually, which can help get a better picture of any growths around the eye.
Chemotherapy
Treatment for retinoblastoma will usually include chemotherapy.
Chemotherapy can be injected in the body through a vein, such as the arm or chest, or can be taken in a pill form via the mouth. This is usually used to shrink the size of the tumor in order for other treatments to get rid of any remaining cancer cells.
There are also two different techniques called intra-arterial chemotherapy and intravitreal chemotherapy. In intra-arterial the chemo is inserted directly into the tumor through a small tube. In intravitreal the chemo is injected into the eye. Both of these types of chemotherapy are usually used if other treatments are not working as well as the doctors would like.
Radiation
Radiation can also be used to treat retinoblastoma. A small disc containing radiation can be inserted into the body near the tumor that lets off radiation over a few days can be used, or a beam of radiation can be used to target the tumor from outside of the body.
Because of its location, a beam of radiation (external beam radiation) will only be used in advanced stages of the cancer because of the risk it has being close to the brain.
Other common treatment
Other common therapies for retinoblastoma are laser therapy and cryotherapy (freezing treatment). Both lasers and cold therapies can effectively kill cancer cells.
Lastly, surgery can be used if the tumor can not be treated with other treatments. Surgery for retinoblastoma will probably include eye removal, and an eye implant fitted. After this an artificial eye can be placed over the implant after it has had time to heal.
Ask your doctor what about treatment options and what treatment is best for your child's case.
Symptom list:
Retinoblastoma
Financial support
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p.s. Just because you have insurance, that doesn't mean that charities or other organizations are not able to support you too.
Emotional support
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