Warriors and Survivors - Children Cancer Stories by Rukh Yusuf - Blog # 33

I am Rukh Yusuf, Clinical Pharmacist, also specialized in Total Parenteral Nutrition and Bone Marrow Transplant. I have been working in Pediatric Oncology unit of a public hospital for several years. The mission of this blog is to bring to you the real-life stories of child patients suffering from cancer. Cancer is still a difficult disease to handle and treat. However, when it strikes the children, some so young that they cannot even speak, their agony is beyond expression and words. Let us pray especially for children suffering from cancer for early and complete remission. May Allah shower His Merciful Blessings upon them. Aameen.

Cancer is terrible disease for all pediatric populations no matter what the age of the child is. But it is extremely heartbreaking when child is as young as one year.

My today’s warrior is just 13-month-old Haleema, who is so cute that you can’t stop looking at her. But to her bad luck, she is diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma of bladder. She is the only child of her parents and a resident of Lahore.

Rhabdomyosarcoma  (also known as RMS) is a type of Sarcoma cancer that affects the muscles that are attached to the bone. Rhabdomyosarcoma tumours occur mostly around the head and neck. RMS is the most common type of soft tissue sarcoma to occur in childhood, accounting for 53 percent of cases.

Three months ago, Haleema developed rashes just like children of this or younger age develop. It was normal so at first her mother treated her with rash creams but when she did not get better, she was taken to local physician for check up. Doctor advised some creams and sent home. But Haleema’s problem persisted, and her mother noticed that she had pain while urination. Haleema was taken to a tertiary care hospital where doctors said that she had developed fungal infection and diagnosed as UTI, she was treated with antifungal along with UTI treatment. After 15 days treatment she got better and was sent home.

After couple of weeks or so she again had pain and inflammation while urination. Moreover, this time her abdomen swelled. She was having intense pain while urination and a swollen abdomen. Her parents got worried and approached hospital again, Doctors gave medications and started multiple investigation to find the real cause of her pain. In Ultrasound a mass was revealed in her bladder and near ureters.

She was referred to Pediatric urology unit of tertiary care hospital for further work up and treatment. On biopsy, RMS (Rhabdomyosarcoma of bladder and ureter) was diagnosed, and she was sent to Pediatric oncology unit for treatment.

By now, we all know how difficult cancer treatment and chemotherapy are and specially for a one-year-old child who had been on many treatments since few months. Her treatment has started and it is her first course. she is hardly tolerating chemotherapy. First, she had extensive vomiting despite all the necessary precautions, and now her kidney function has started deteriorating, it seems she will be needing dialysis to go for further chemotherapy.

When we look at Haleema, she seems in so much pain that she even refuses chocolates and candies. She is not interested in any toy as well. It seems she has lost interest in everything around, things which are attractive to a child of this age are meaningless to her.

Her mother said she had lost four kg weight in last few months; she was more attractive before disease but pain had changed her a lot.

No doubt her case is very difficult; she is too weak to bear treatment and its side effects. Moreover, her kidney function is not good as well. She is the only child of her parents, and she has a whole life ahead. It is very difficult for a female child with such a disease at a very young age.

 

We pray for ease and healthy life of Haleema and all suffering children. Aameen

 

Note: Names have been changed to protect identity.

 

 

 

Warriors and Survivors - 32

 

Children Cancer Stories by Rukh Yusuf - Blog # 32

I am Rukh Yusuf, Clinical Pharmacist, also specialized in Total Parenteral Nutrition and Bone Marrow Transplant. I have been working in Pediatric Oncology unit of a public hospital for several years. The mission of this blog is to bring to you the real-life stories of child patients suffering from cancer. Cancer is still a difficult disease to handle and treat. However, when it strikes the children, some so young that they cannot even speak, their agony is beyond expression and words. Let us pray especially for children suffering from cancer for early and complete remission. May Allah shower His Merciful Blessings upon them. Aameen.

 

Amid lot of pain and disappointment Let’s talk about some hope and discuss a success story. Today I met a 13-year-old Asad, a cancer survivor to requested him to share his experience about his disease and treatment. Below is what he said.

I was shy always, I used to stay at home and play video games and read books. I was never a sports person but whenever I tried I could not do better.

Parents consulted doctors worried about my growth and strength, later I was put on multivitamins and supplements to help in my growth and strength. I used that for many months but nothing improved. Three years before my right leg began to hurt near the knee. Later I noticed my leg starting to swell up and I informed my mother. She consulted doctor. After multiple visits and a lot number of tests, x-rays and other difficult investigations it revealed that it is tumor that is reason of my leg swelling and broken bone and doctors named it osteosarcoma. I was referred to tertiary care oncology center for treatment.

My treatment started here, it included lot of heavy chemotherapy and very difficult tests like bone scan and a CT scan and it is very difficult to bear the chemotherapy alone, scans are scary too. It’s too difficult to describe pain of bearing chemotherapy, but by grace of Almighty I completed chemo cycles and it was very disappointing to know after post chemo scans that osteosarcoma spread in the neighboring bones.

I had to go through bone scan and a CT scan multiple times, and then labs, and waiting for the labs is too troublesome to describe. Waiting for the test result to come normal is more than waiting for exam result.

Later my leg had to be amputated above the knee and I was on wheelchair for some time than my parents helped me with prosthesis. I cannot describe my feeling when my leg was amputated. It was like my life is going to end. Later I had to go through physical therapy to adjust with my prosthesis.

 

 

After another round of chemotherapy I was cleared of any sign of cancer and it was declared that my treatment is completed. My parents and family were too happy for me and I am not sure about my feeling. Whether I should be happy for successful treatment or sad for losing my leg for always in all years to come of my life.

No doubt my life will never be same again but to be honest I am happy that Allah cured me of such a horrible disease as I have seen many children younger than me suffering different kind of cancers and their lives are miserable. I am grateful to Allah who saved me from this terrible disease and thankful for the support of my parents, family and all hospital staff who worked hard for my treatment and cure. I pray that Allah grant health to every cancer patient.

 

We pray for healthy life of Asad and all suffering children. Aameen

 

Note: Names have been changed to protect identity.

 

 

 

Warriors and Survivors - 31

 

Children Cancer Stories by Rukh Yusuf - Blog # 31

I am Rukh Yusuf, Clinical Pharmacist, also specialized in Total Parenteral Nutrition and Bone Marrow Transplant. I have been working in Pediatric Oncology unit of a public hospital for several years. The mission of this blog is to bring to you the real-life stories of child patients suffering from cancer. Cancer is still a difficult disease to handle and treat. However, when it strikes the children, some so young that they cannot even speak, their agony is beyond expression and words. Let us pray especially for children suffering from cancer for early and complete remission. May Allah shower His Merciful Blessings upon them. Aameen.

 

Ibrahim was extremely well, extremely active, and healthy till one and a half years of his age. He is the only son of his parents and apple of eye for the entire family. His parents prayed for a long time for him.

In early July, Ibrahim had a boil on his face which slowly got bigger and covered his whole right cheek near nose. It was also very painful. His mother decided to go to local physician. Physician said, “I think you should go to ER straight away.” So, her mother went straight to local hospital’s emergency without any further delay.

Doctors in emergency evaluated him and informed that some blood tests were needed before resection of the mass. Ibrahim was referred to a tertiary care hospital in Lahore for further treatment.

Parents took him to Lahore from Gujranwala. After necessary investigations, his mass was resected and after few days of post surgery treatment he was discharged, and Ibrahim left for home happily. Parents were happy too for the recovery of their only son.

After only a month, the poor child started having same problem again, and gradually the same mass appeared on the same location. The mother was extremely worried and concerned as Ibrahim was hardly three years old and he had faced a long disease and treatment in such a young age. But she did not know that there was another trial ahead they had to face.

Ibrahim’s parents consulted the doctor again and he advised multiple investigations as per the case. After many tests, worst news was given to Ibrahim’s parents “your child has cancer”

Ibrahim was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma, which is a type of sarcoma. Sarcoma is cancer of soft tissue (such as muscle), connective tissue (such as tendon or cartilage), or bone. Rhabdomyosarcoma usually begins in muscles that are attached to bones and help the body move, but it may begin in many places in the body.

Ibrahim’s treatment and chemotherapy was started in September and the little angel is bearing the therapy so far. In fact, a three-year-old angel does not know what he is going through. He just knows that he is not at home, and he does not like it to be in hospital at any cost.

Ibrahim used to be friendly and loving child, he used to play around and meet people but now he is different as he has been through a lot. His disease has changed him. He is afraid of people now. He thinks anyone coming to him might inject him some medicine or take him for some test. He is always angry and wants to go home.

His mother says, nothing is normal, nothing is comforting, nothing is regular. Everything is irregular and seems useless. It seems life is on hold, and all that matters is making Ibrahim as comfortable and happy as he can be. His mother wishes to make Ibrahim’s stay as comfortable and joyful as she can.

Seeing one’s child suffering with such a horrific illness is very difficult, and the pain is immense when he is too young to understand his condition.

 

We all pray for smooth recovery of Ibrahim and all children like him. Aameen

 

Note: Names have been changed to protect identity.

 

Warriors and Survivors - 30

 

Children Cancer Stories by Rukh Yusuf - Blog # 30

I am Rukh Yusuf, Clinical Pharmacist, also specialized in Total Parenteral Nutrition and Bone Marrow Transplant. I have been working in Pediatric Oncology unit of a public hospital for several years. The mission of this blog is to bring to you the real-life stories of child patients suffering from cancer. Cancer is still a difficult disease to handle and treat. However, when it strikes the children, some so young that they cannot even speak, their agony is beyond expression and words. Let us pray especially for children suffering from cancer for early and complete remission. May Allah shower His Merciful Blessings upon them. Aameen.

Whenever I meet and talk to a child and his or her family, I keep thinking for hours about how can I ease them,  I try to do what is possible though it may not be much. Obviously, there are number of factors I can’t control, and I am directly not involved in many. But I do whatever I can do in my domain. There are a lot of miseries and complications associated with the treatment of chronic illnesses like cancer.

We need a strong heart and mind to meet and treat all patients who are suffering silently. I met 10 years old Sajeel and his parents today, and I still remember their painful and hopeful eyes. The family belongs to Bhakkar, a town near Faisalabad. Sajeel’s father works as barber in Bhakkar. The parents cannot speak proper language here. They have four children and Sajeel is a middle child. It’s not hard to understand their grief.

Few months back, Sajeel had recurrent fever and fits, He was playing when he got fits, parents took him to doctor in Bhakkar, who gave him initial treatment and sent him home. Sajeel had again same episode of fits and recurrent fever. Parents consulted doctor again and he referred Sajeel to Allied hospital Faisalabad. Sajeel’s initial treatment and investigations began in hospital and his fever and overall health improved. After necessary tests and investigations doctor broke the bad news to Sajeel’s parents that their child was having blood cancer. Sajeel was sent to Lahore for treatment and further investigations.

The poor family managed to travel to Lahore somehow. Moving to an unknown city, leaving three children behind, and stopping daily wage with such a horrible news of one’s life is surely not an easy task. Parents do whatever they can to protect their child, no matter whatever resources they have, Sajeel’s parents are still doing the same without considering their financial status. In Children’s hospital Sajeel was diagnosed as a case of high-risk B-cell ALL and he was put on completion of Induction.

His treatment started and he was sent home after initiation of chemotherapy. It was advised that he would come and have his chemo in Chemobay on scheduled days, but after couple of weeks Sajeel developed cough and difficulty in breathing, he had to travel again to Lahore and had to be admitted due to his sick condition. His treatment was started, and it was found out that he had fungal pneumonia. He is still on treatment for ten days.

  

Sajeel is doing better these days. His first cycle is about to complete but seeing his condition it is still a long way to go. In this one-month, multiple visits to other city has brought many hardships for the poor family and they still don’t know for how long they will have to face hardship.

Sajeel is silent and there is pain in his eyes, no one can imagine how much his little heart is afraid of his disease, his pain and agony he is facing since couple of months.

We humans only can try to treat well and counsel and pray, health is always from Allah. I pray that May Allah bring health and smooth recovery for Sajeel and ease for his family and all the families who are suffering in silence.

 

 

Note: Names have been changed to protect identity