Warriors and Survivors -140

 Children Cancer Stories by Rukh Yusuf - Blog # 140

I am Rukh Yusuf, Clinical Pharmacist, also specialized in Total Parenteral Nutrition and Bone Marrow Transplant. I have been working in the 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. 

In February 2021, Kaleem, who was 10 at the time, started talking through his nose and his parents thought he was coming down with a cold.

His mother looked in his mouth and saw a swelling at the back, it was so big that it pushed his uvula to the side. They went straight to the GP and the doctor referred them to local hospital.

An ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist saw him and thought it was a type of abscess. He tried drawing fluid from it three times, but nothing came out.

He was on two different types of antibiotics. Exactly a week later, medication was finished but the swelling had not changed, and Kaleem had started to snore during the night, so they went back to GP.

GP sent them again to the local hospital and they saw a different ENT specialist. Kaleem was not ill, did not have a cold, sore throat or anything but they kept them in hospital for four days for intravenous antibiotics. He also had an MRI scan done.

Nothing at all was mentioned to parents that this could be something serious. On 23 February, they went for a biopsy and Kaleem was kept overnight for observation.

On 24 February, Kaleem and his parents were waiting to be discharged when an ENT consultant came in and told them that Kaleem’s initial results showed he had a lymphoma or non-Hodgkin lymphoma/Burkitt lymphoma. 

Kaleem’s parents agreed to chemotherapy starting that weekend. Kaleem’s tumor was the size of an orange in his throat and it was aggressively growing. If they didn’t do this straight away, he would suffocate in his sleep.

Then came the cycle of six months as an inpatient. Kaleem blamed his mother for making him ill, as he thought he was okay but by bringing him to the hospital made him sick.

He needed a feeding tube as he couldn’t eat, he needed to go to theatre every cycle to have chemo and steroids put directly into his spinal fluid to stop the cancer spreading to his brain and spinal cord, he went from 35kgs to 28kgs, and there were times when his parents thought he wasn’t going to make it.

Kaleem finally went into remission at the end of treatment in August 2021. Since then, he has suffered after-effects of the chemo, tiredness being the main one. Generally, his health is good, he has a vitamin D deficiency picked up at a blood test and still suffers occasionally with tummy troubles, but he has learnt to deal with it. He is confident and a happy boy. 

Cancer isn’t fussy, it’s not bothered about color, creed, religion or age, so my only encouragement or words to any patient embarking on this journey, is that you are never alone, not ever. Put your pain and hurt into getting back from hell, because you will, you just need a little faith, a little luck and a bit more belief.

Prayers for Kaleem’s complete recovery and smooth life ahead. Many prayers for his parents who had been through a very difficult time.  

Lots of prayers for all sick children to recover quickly and never experience their illnesses again. May they lead happy and healthy lives once more. Aameen.

Warriors and Survivors -139

Children Cancer Stories by Rukh Yusuf - Blog # 139

I am Rukh Yusuf, Clinical Pharmacist, also specialized in Total Parenteral Nutrition and Bone Marrow Transplant. I have been working in the 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. 

Even without knowing Jamal, one can see from his picture only that he is a fighter. It’s not because he wants to be, it’s because he has to be.

Only at 7 years of age, Jamal was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma, a very rare type of cancerous tumor, affecting about 200 kids of age 10 to 20, mostly males. It grows in the bones or the soft tissues surrounding the bones. The tumor began in Jamal’s back, pressing his lumbar spine and the nerves controlling his left leg, causing radiating pain and temporary paralysis. 

Jamal had emergency surgery to remove the tumor, then his first round of chemotherapy was started to treat the disease. His mother told that “Jamal spent more than 100 days as an inpatient at Children’s hospital.” 

After first cycle of chemotherapy, Jamal had radiation therapy as an outpatient. The goal was to be sure all of the cancer cells in the original tumor were gone. And for a while, they were. 

Jamal was doing well for a while, and he started school again. But about two years after he finished treatment, Jamal started waking up with terrible headaches. Few tests confirmed the cancer was back, appearing at the cervical spine and in his ribs. It was devastating for Jamal and family, but poor kid decided to fight again and so did his parents. 

Jamal was again on chemotherapy for round two which was followed by radiation. “It seems like treatment has become routine for Jamal,” mother said. 

Today, Jamal is on a new combination of chemotherapy. He balances treatment with reading and spending time with family.

Jamal and his family continue to choose optimism, generosity and love throughout treatment, He is an inspiring young man, and he should be given every possible fighting chance.

Prayers for Jamal’s complete recovery and smooth life ahead. Many prayers for his parents who had been through a very difficult time.  

Lots of prayers for all sick children to recover quickly and never experience their illnesses again. May they lead happy and healthy lives once more. Aameen.

Warriors and Survivors - 138

Children Cancer Stories by Rukh Yusuf - Blog # 138

I am Rukh Yusuf, Clinical Pharmacist, also specialized in Total Parenteral Nutrition and Bone Marrow Transplant. I have been working in the 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. 

Here is another story of one more angle and his family suffering with this chronic disease and related miseries.

It’s about Ahmad Raza, a ten-year-old boy who was enjoying his life like a normal kid, happy and contented when he started having intermittent fever. His fever increased gradually along with vomiting and pain in his abdomen. 

Thinking it’s a seasonal viral infection, his parents consulted the local GP. The physician administered symptomatic treatment and advised blood tests. Seeing Ahmad Raza’s CBC, he was referred to hospital for further diagnosis and treatment. The parents first took him to general hospital, where his BMB was done and later he was referred to Children’s hospital Lahore on suspicion of blood cancer.

Here at Children Hospital, Ahmad Raza was diagnosed as patient of ALL, it was a life changing moment when the family got the news about their child being a cancer patient. His mother was silent for days after having this news. 

Ahmad Raza is on anticancer therapy, he is having UKALL regimen B protocol and doing well so far. Life is not as it used to be before this cancer news. The family is taking it bravely and surprisingly Ahmad  has also proved his strength. But the disease he is having is cruel and unpredictable. Ahmad and his family need lots of strength to go through these difficult times. 

The treatment duration is long, and chemotherapy is hard for a ten-year-old child who is travelling from a different city to have his treatment. Ahmad has four siblings at home to be taken care of in a different city. This chronic disease makes many lives miserable. We pray and hope this treatment continue to be light and effective for Ahmad Raza and his family. 

Prayers for Ahmad’s complete recovery and smooth life ahead. The poor child is fighting the hard battle. Many prayers for his parents who are going through a very difficult time.  

Lots of prayers for all sick children to recover quickly and never experience their illnesses again. May they lead happy and healthy lives once more. Aameen.

Warriors and Survivors - 137

 Children Cancer Stories by Rukh Yusuf - Blog # 137

I am Rukh Yusuf, Clinical Pharmacist, also specialized in Total Parenteral Nutrition and Bone Marrow Transplant. I have been working in the 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. 

Both parents weren’t initially worried when their usually happy, and healthy, 6-year-old son complained about pain in his leg. But then it began waking him at night and their parental instincts went on high alert. When Ahsan began limping and was in nearly constant discomfort, both parents started looking for help.

For seven months, they took their son from one doctor to another, from Lahore to Islamabad, but there was no definitive diagnosis. Meanwhile, Ahsan’s health worsened. “He was rapidly losing weight, was always very tired, stopped attending school, stopped eating and was in constant, unbearable pain,” his mother said.

Finally, doctors re-evaluated the boy’s condition and referred him to an oncology specialist. A biopsy confirmed what the parents had feared all along: cancer—specifically, Ewing sarcoma. Tests showed a tumor had affected Ahsan’s right hip and thigh bone. Ahsan eventually began chemotherapy, but by then his health had significantly deteriorated. 

Ahsan’s parents went to children’s hospital and doctors there offered Ahsan’s treatment. 

In December 2022—11 months after initially seeking treatment for their son—the family went to children’s hospital Lahore. After reviewing his records, oncologist, said the team here could offer surgery and further treatment. They gave some hope that he can be treated. 

Ahsan was immediately admitted to Children’s hospital, and chemotherapy was restarted as the health experts assessed his condition. In January 2023, surgeons removed Ahsan’s tumor. He had surgery, followed by more chemotherapy and a unique radiation treatment. By July, his cancer was gone.  Ahsan headed home in August, but he’ll be returning every three months for the first year, and then continue follow-up for many years to come. Doctor will check regularly to ensure his cancer hasn’t recurred.

“Ahsan’s case has been challenging because of the aggressiveness of his tumor and the extensive surgery he required, but he did remarkably well.

His parents said, “Ahsan was getting stronger every day and they will forever be grateful not only to the medical professionals, but to the numerous friends they made. Children hospital will always feel like a second home”.

Prayers for Ahsan’s complete recovery and smooth life ahead. The poor child is fighting the battle again. Many prayers for his parents who are going through a very difficult time.  

Lots of prayers for all sick children to recover quickly and never experience their illnesses again. May they lead happy and healthy lives once more. Aameen.

Warriors and Survivors - 136

Children Cancer Stories by Rukh Yusuf - Blog # 136

I am Rukh Yusuf, Clinical Pharmacist, also specialized in Total Parenteral Nutrition and Bone Marrow Transplant. I have been working in the 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. 

When Jawad was just 9 months old, his pediatrician took one look at him sitting in mother’s lap and asked how long his belly had been distended. His mother was shocked: “I thought it was just a baby potbelly.” The doctor felt Jawad’s belly and noticed his liver was enlarged. A heel prick test indicated low hemoglobin.

The parents and Jawad, headed to a local hospital, where a blood test showed the baby’s platelet count was very high. They were referred to Children’s Hospital.

At Children’s Hospital, an ultrasound revealed a mass on Jawad’s liver. “They told me that they thought it was cancer.  Mother recalls. “I can still remember those exact words. They were scary, but I didn’t cry. I found strength I didn’t how I had that day.”

Jawad was admitted to the oncology unit. A biopsy confirmed it was hepatoblastoma, the most common malignant (cancerous) liver tumor in early childhood.

During the next six months, Jawad underwent four rounds of chemotherapy, followed by surgery to remove part of his liver. Surgeons performed the complicated procedure — the tumor was attached to a vein. 

He lost over 70 percent of his liver, but he avoided a liver transplant, which was a huge thing.  After two more rounds of chemotherapy, in the summer of 2020, Jawad was considered in remission.

Unfortunately, all was not well — and now the bad news was for parents. The mother was diagnosed with an abdominal tumor, a rare tumor possibly associated with a genetic condition. 

Jawad enjoyed six years of remission, which meant he began attending hospital follow up visits and clinics for kids who are at least five years post-diagnosis and at least two years after the completion of all cancer therapy.

In the summer of 2021, however, he went from survivor back to patient after developing a stomach bug two weeks before school started. It went away for about a week, and he made it to his first day of school, but the vomiting started again the next day. 

Jawad did not usually get headaches, and he hardly complained, but he was in tears and gripping his head. They came on after a long day playing outside in the heat with friends. His mother thought it was dehydration, but somewhere in her head, warning bells were starting to go off.

At the local ER, an X-ray of his chest and abdomen showed nothing. But something was clearly wrong. Finally, one of his pediatricians said enough was enough and told them to see a gastroenterologist at hospital. Jawad was drained and feeling pretty weak. The doctor they saw was troubled by  description of his headaches. 

An MRI showed a mass in his brain. 

Jawad was admitted again and was in surgery the next day.  Head of Neurosurgery removed the tumor completely. A spinal tap showed Jawad’s spinal fluid was free of tumor cells, so he was listed as standard risk. 

He still has to go for six weeks of radiation of his brain and spinal column followed. His nine rounds of chemotherapy needs to be done. 

Prayers for Jawads’s recovery and smooth life ahead. The poor child is fighting the battle again. Many prayers for his parents who are going through a very difficult time.  

Lots of prayers for all sick children to recover quickly and never experience their illnesses again. May they lead happy and healthy lives once more. Aameen.

Warriors and Survivors - 135

 Warriors and Survivors - Children Cancer Stories by Rukh Yusuf - Blog # 135 

I am Rukh Yusuf, Clinical Pharmacist, also specialized in Total Parenteral Nutrition and Bone Marrow Transplant. I have been working in the 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.  

 

Zeeshan appeared to be a healthy, very happy, contented baby. When he was ten months old, he began to take less feed, needed to be fed more often, and didn’t appear to enjoy solids. The parents weren’t overly concerned.  

One morning when his mother was changing his dress, she noticed a lump protruding from under his ribcage when he was lying down. It felt very big, and it was hard and solid. 

She talked to a doctor on phone and later visited him within few hours. The doctor didn’t seem overly concerned either, but advised to take him to Children hospital over the next few days. 

She got an appointment for the following morning, and thus began of the worst time of their lives. 

The mother told that she remembered sitting in the waiting room with Zeeshan asleep. He looked so healthy and contented. It would be nothing, she thought. 

The doctor in outpatient clinic examined him and referred him immediately to Oncology unit as he wanted a scan done and blood taken. He didn’t alarm the family too much, but he was persistent and serious. 

They spent the afternoon at the hospital, while Zeeshan had an ultrasound scan, CT scan and numerous blood tests; it was very distressing for parents. They informed them in the evening that their baby boy had cancer – but they didn’t yet know what type and how serious it was. 

“Babies don’t get cancer! There must be a mistake,” the mother thought.  

Zeeshan was transferred to a bed in Oncology unit. Both parents and Zeeshan spent next week in  oncology Ward whilst the oncology team did further tests, a biopsy of the lump, and inserted his central line, he had an MRI scan and another CT scan. 

Zeeshan at only ten months of age went through so much that week but was still the happy baby boy who was loved. The parents were missing their other two children terribly and it was a very difficult time for children too. Luckily, they had grandparents to help as much as they could. 

In August 2023, he was diagnosed with High Risk hepatoblastoma – a very rare tumor in his liver. 

Only one in a million children develops this disease and this poor little soul was one of them. 

High Risk was not good as it meant the tumor had spread, it was 12cm wide and was squashing most of his abdomen, including his stomach, which answered why he wasn’t eating very well. The tumor was so big, it was inoperable at that time. 

Zeeshan endured three rounds of toxic chemotherapy for three months, followed by major surgery lasting six hours to remove the tumor once it was small enough for them to remove safely. 

He has to go for further chemotherapy now to ensure that no cancer was left inside him. 

He still has regular follow-ups and will continue to do so for years to come.   

He is having a high-risk disease which is scary for the whole family. Though he is under treatment and the parents are doing everything they are capable of, every passing second is horrible for them thinking a ten month old baby has a high-risk disease... 

Prayers for Zeeshan’s recovery and smooth life ahead. Many prayers for his parents who are going through a very difficult time.   

Lots of prayers for all sick children to recover quickly and never experience their illnesses again. May they lead happy and healthy lives once more. Aameen.