Retinoblastoma Sat, 13th August, 2011
Retinoblastoma is a malignancy of the retinal cell layer of the eye and is the most common eye tumor in children. It usually occurs before the age of five and can occur in one or in both eyes and is hereditary in some cases. Retinoblastoma accounts for 3-4% of all childhood cancers; about 1 in every 15,000 children will be diagnosed with this cancer.
Signs and Symptoms
whitish color behind the pupil
problems with eye movements (crossed eyes)
a red irritation that persists
The most common symptom is a whitish color behind the pupil, instead of the usual dark color. At well-baby check-ups, the pediatrician routinely checks your child's eyes for this and other symptoms. As a parent, you should watch for the above symptoms between check-ups as well.
If you suspect that the abnormalities listed above are present and not adequately explained by your pediatrician, you should seek an eye examination by an ophthalmologist specializing in pediatric eye disease. If the ophthalmologist detects abnormalities, an examination under anesthesia may be required to further evaluate your child.
Retinoblastoma is treated by surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Current statistics state a 80-90% 5 year survival rate.
Bone Cancers
Osteosarcoma and Ewing's sarcoma are the most common malignancies of bone tissues in children. Osteosarcoma, the more common of the two types, usually presents in bones around the knee; Ewing's sarcoma may affect bones of the pelvis, thigh, upper arm, or ribs. Bone cancers are most common in ages 10-20 and they account for about 6% of all childhood cancers.
Signs and Symptoms
pain in a bone
swelling or tenderness around a bone or joint
interference with normal movements
weak bones, leading to fractures
fatigue, fever, weight loss, anemia
Bone pain is the most common symptom. Sometimes a lump can be felt on the bone, or the tumor will interfere with normal movements. What often happens is that a child injures themselves while playing, and the pain persists long after the injury should have healed. So, assuming that a bone is broken, the parents take the child to the doctor for evaluation, at which time X-rays reveal a bone tumor.
What to Do
Take your child to the doctor. The doctor should do a complete examination and order the following tests:
blood tests
X-rays
The blood is tested for alkaline phosphatase. A large amount of alkaline phosphatase can be found in the blood when the cells that form bone tissue are very active, as in growing children and adolescents, or when a broken bone is mending, or when bone cancer is present. While this test is not a completely reliable indicator of bone cancer, a positive test indicates further tests are warranted. If the doctor feels that the examination, blood tests, and X-rays indicate bone cancer, he will refer you to an orthopedic oncologist. The oncologist will do a biopsy to look at the cells under a microscopy and may order a CT scan or an MRI. About 25% of bone cancers have spread at diagnosis, usually to the lungs.
Bone cancer is treated by surgery to remove the tumor combined with chemotherapy. The prognosis depends on the location of the tumor and whether or not it has spread; generally a five year survival rate of 70% is given for childhood bone cancers..
Retinoblastoma is a malignancy of the retinal cell layer of the eye and is the most common eye tumor in children. It usually occurs before the age of five and can occur in one or in both eyes and is hereditary in some cases. Retinoblastoma accounts for 3-4% of all childhood cancers; about 1 in every 15,000 children will be diagnosed with this cancer.
Signs and Symptoms
whitish color behind the pupil
problems with eye movements (crossed eyes)
a red irritation that persists
The most common symptom is a whitish color behind the pupil, instead of the usual dark color. At well-baby check-ups, the pediatrician routinely checks your child's eyes for this and other symptoms. As a parent, you should watch for the above symptoms between check-ups as well.
If you suspect that the abnormalities listed above are present and not adequately explained by your pediatrician, you should seek an eye examination by an ophthalmologist specializing in pediatric eye disease. If the ophthalmologist detects abnormalities, an examination under anesthesia may be required to further evaluate your child.
Retinoblastoma is treated by surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Current statistics state a 80-90% 5 year survival rate.
Bone Cancers
Osteosarcoma and Ewing's sarcoma are the most common malignancies of bone tissues in children. Osteosarcoma, the more common of the two types, usually presents in bones around the knee; Ewing's sarcoma may affect bones of the pelvis, thigh, upper arm, or ribs. Bone cancers are most common in ages 10-20 and they account for about 6% of all childhood cancers.
Signs and Symptoms
pain in a bone
swelling or tenderness around a bone or joint
interference with normal movements
weak bones, leading to fractures
fatigue, fever, weight loss, anemia
Bone pain is the most common symptom. Sometimes a lump can be felt on the bone, or the tumor will interfere with normal movements. What often happens is that a child injures themselves while playing, and the pain persists long after the injury should have healed. So, assuming that a bone is broken, the parents take the child to the doctor for evaluation, at which time X-rays reveal a bone tumor.
What to Do
Take your child to the doctor. The doctor should do a complete examination and order the following tests:
blood tests
X-rays
The blood is tested for alkaline phosphatase. A large amount of alkaline phosphatase can be found in the blood when the cells that form bone tissue are very active, as in growing children and adolescents, or when a broken bone is mending, or when bone cancer is present. While this test is not a completely reliable indicator of bone cancer, a positive test indicates further tests are warranted. If the doctor feels that the examination, blood tests, and X-rays indicate bone cancer, he will refer you to an orthopedic oncologist. The oncologist will do a biopsy to look at the cells under a microscopy and may order a CT scan or an MRI. About 25% of bone cancers have spread at diagnosis, usually to the lungs.
Bone cancer is treated by surgery to remove the tumor combined with chemotherapy. The prognosis depends on the location of the tumor and whether or not it has spread; generally a five year survival rate of 70% is given for childhood bone cancers..