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.