Warriors and Survivors - 51

 

Children Cancer Stories by Rukh Yusuf - Blog # 51

 "Ewing's Sarcoma"

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.

I met Ahmad Hassan a couple of days ago. He is twelve years old and is eldest among his siblings; eldest of five brothers and one sister. When I saw him he was talking to his father on phone while his maternal grandmother was sitting with him and she was quiet worried for his grandson. What a heart wrenching scene, parents must be away to look after and earn for their family and their eldest son is fighting a hard battle. Ahmad Hassan’s father is a laborer, mother is housewife, and she has to look after younger children as well. The brave family belongs to Bahawalnagar.

Ahmad Hassan was fine three months ago, suddenly he felt some swelling on right chest and back pain. The swelling enlarged with time. The parents contacted doctors, and they referred him to Children’s hospital after seeing his condition.

Thorough workup and investigations were done for Ahmad Hassan’s mass on chest along with the mass biopsy and He was diagnosed as case of Ewing’s Sarcoma. He was admitted in Children’s Hospital first time in January 2022 and now he is on his third chemo cycle.

Ewing sarcoma is a rare type of cancer that occurs in bones or in the soft tissue around the bones. Ewing sarcoma most often begins in the leg bones and in the pelvis, but it can occur in any bone. Less often, it starts in the soft tissues of the chest, abdomen, limbs, or other locations.

Exact cause is not known but most Ewing's sarcomas result from a chromosome rearrangement between chromosomes #11 and #22. This rearrangement changes the position and function of genes, causing a fusion of genes referred to as a fusion transcript. So, we may call it a result of genetic rearrangements.

He is Alhumdolillah improving but he is too weak for a 12-year-old guy. He looks too thin and dark; the reason may be poverty or its racial look, but I wish our children should look as healthy and happy as of developed world.

But the good thing is whatever the circumstances are, they keep on fighting even with fewer resources, low or no money. Sometimes they don’t have anyone to manage home and hospital and suffering child but then near blood relatives like Aunts or grandmothers come along to serve.

Ahmad Hassan’s family is also striving hard for their elder son facing every difficulty including frequent travelling from Bahawalnagar with less resources. Family and health care providers are striving hard for these children. May Allah protect and bless them health.

We can pray for the ease of the suffering family and the complete health and recovery of Ahmad Hassan and all warriors who are suffering silently and those who even don’t know their disease and what is going on with them.

May Allah ease and cure all patients and cancer warriors.

 

 

Note: Names have been changed to protect identity