What is retinoblastoma?
What causes retinoblastoma?
What are the symptoms of retinoblastoma?
Symptoms include:
-
A pupil (the black spot in the center of the eye) that's white instead of black
-
Eyes that look in different directions (strabismus, also called cross-eyes)
-
If the retinoblastoma is large, vision problems
If the cancer has spread, children may also throw up, lose their appetite, or have a headache.
How can doctors tell if my child has retinoblastoma?
If a doctor suspects a retinoblastoma, they'll:
If your child has retinoblastoma, doctors will do more tests to see if the cancer has spread, including:
-
Bone scan
-
Taking a sample of bone marrow (bone marrow biopsy) to look for cancer
-
Sometimes, a spinal tap
Doctors will also do genetic testing to see if your child's retinoblastoma is the type that can be passed down in a family. If it is, doctors will also test members of the child's family. Brothers and sisters at risk for retinoblastoma should have eye exams every 4 months from birth to age 4. Parents' eyes should also be checked, because the same gene can cause noncancerous tumors in an adult retina.
How do doctors treat retinoblastoma?
Treatment depends on where the retinoblastoma is and whether it has spread. It's important to remove the whole tumor, but if possible, doctors use treatments that spare the vision.
If retinoblastoma is only in one eye, doctors usually:
If the retinoblastoma is in both eyes, doctors may remove the eye with the largest tumor and try to treat the other eye without removing it so your child can still see. Those treatments may use:
-
Chemotherapy drugs injected directly through the main artery that provides blood to the eye
-
Cryotherapy
-
Laser therapy
-
Pieces of radioactive material placed near the tumor (brachytherapy)
After treatment, specialists should examine your child regularly to make sure the cancer hasn't come back.
