Warriors and Survivors -54

 

 Children Cancer Stories by Rukh Yusuf - Blog # 54

 

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.

 

We have discussed Thalassemia in couple of blogs already but when I met Mohsin Ali and his parents in such a critical condition, I decided to write more about this severe disease.

Thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder that reduces the production of functional hemoglobin (the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen). This causes a shortage of red blood cells and low levels of oxygen in the bloodstream, leading to a variety of health problems. There are two main types of thalassemia, alpha thalassemia and beta thalassemia. Signs and symptoms vary but may include mild to severe anemia, paleness, fatigue, yellow discoloration of skin (jaundice), and bone problems. Beta thalassemia is caused by changes (mutations) in the HBB gene while alpha thalassemia is caused by mutations in the HBA1 and/or HBA2 genes. Both are inherited in an autosomal recessive manner. Treatment depends on the type and severity of the condition but may include blood transfusions and/or folic acid supplements.

The signs and symptoms vary depending on the severity of the thalassemia. For example, people affected by milder forms of thalassemia can develop mild anemia or may have no signs or symptoms. Intermediate forms of thalassemia can cause mild to moderate anemia and may be associated with other health problems such as slowed growth, delayed puberty, bone problems and/or an enlarged spleen. People with severe forms of thalassemia may also experience severe anemia, poor appetite, paleness, dark urine, yellow discoloration of skin (jaundice), and enlarged liver or heart.

The two main types of thalassemia, alpha thalassemia and beta thalassemia, affect a different part of hemoglobin. In general, thalassemia is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner, and the inheritance can be quite complex as multiple genes can influence the production of hemoglobin.

The best treatment options depend on the severity of thalassemia. People affected by a mild form often need little to no treatment, while people with intermediate to severe thalassemia may require frequent blood transfusions, iron chelation therapy (treatments to remove excess iron from the body), and/or folic acid supplementation.

Children with severe beta thalassemia need frequent blood transfusions and due to this blood, excess iron is stored in different body organs leading to serious complications. Even with good chelation therapy, iron stores sometimes cannot be completely depleted.

Usually, thalassemia patients are being treated on outdoor basis but when some child develops complications, he/she is admitted to hematology oncology unit. Mohsin Ali is admitted due to his sever complications. He is eleven years old only male child of his parents. He has two sisters.

His father is laborer and the family belong to Pakpattan, A really brave family who is striving hard for the treatment of their only son since his initial life.

Mohsin Ali is extremely weak and pale. He is having blood in his stool with lethargy and low oral intake. His ferritin is too high to be controlled. He seems sick and we don’t have words to council parents about the situation of their only son. This is the hardest part for any healthcare provider to guide and inform about the condition and sickness of the children to their parents.

Mohsin’s both parents were with him, struggling with everything they could do for their dying child. Such a heart-breaking situation and when you know you cannot do much for the cure or ease of the poor child.

 

We pray for the ease of the Mohsin Ali and his family and the complete health and recovery of all warriors who are suffering with their families.

May Allah ease and cure all patients and cancer warriors.

 

 

Note: Names have been changed to protect identity