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.
Ihsan is seven years old and a very cute little champ. Ihsan loves to play with his toy cars. He’s a typical boy, except for one thing. He was diagnosed with an aggressive form of Wilms tumor in November 2022—a kidney tumor that required the state-of-the-art cancer care.
Ihasn’s cancer story began when he was just 6 years old. Ihsan’s mom, said he had been a healthy child until one night when he started crying and grabbing his stomach in pain.
“He hadn’t had a bowel movement in three days, so we thought he might just be constipated,” mother said. Ihsan was given constipation treatment but in few days his abdomen enlarged. Parents had to take him to hospital.
The next week in hospital after thorough check up and scans, Ihsan had an abdominal ultrasound that confirmed he had a large mass either on his right kidney or liver. “Our doctor wanted Ihsan to have a CT scan, and referred us to Children’s hospital,” mother said.
Two days later, Ihsan was admitted in Children’s hospital and had CT done that confirmed his tumor on right kidney. Later a biopsy confirmed Ihsan had a common type of childhood kidney cancer called Wilms tumor. What wasn’t common was that it had already spread to lymph nodes.
Unfortunately, analysis of Ihsan’s tumor revealed more widespread, aggressive anaplastic disease. Based on the pathology, from the outset, clinicians knew Ihsan’s treatment would be more challenging. He would need both radiation and intense chemotherapy for the best chance of survival.
Ihsan has a two-month-old sister and two older brothers, ages 6 and 11. His mother stayed in hospital to be at her son’s side during treatment, while his father took care of the other three children at home with the help of family and friends.
Ihsan’s treatment began and later his right kidney was removed. Dr. prescribed radiation therapy and chemotherapy, a powerful one-two punch reserved for the most aggressive Wilms tumor cases.
While chemotherapy was performed at Children’s hospital, Ihsan’s radiation therapy was delivered at the Inmol Medical Center, the hospital’s partner in radiation oncology. In all, Ihsan received 4 radiation treatments, and six months of chemotherapy.
“Ihsan did well with the radiation therapy, but the chemotherapy was hard on him,” mother said. Though technically he was able to return home between treatment cycles, he often ended up back in the hospital when he would have a spike of fever.
Chemotherapy also took a toll on Ihsan’s appetite and digestive system. Eventually he needed a feeding tube to be sure he received adequate nutrition. And chemotherapy affected the nerves in his legs, causing some neuropathy and pain. But overall, Ihsan fought through the treatment and its side effects.
With treatment behind him, Ihsan will continue to go to hospital regularly for follow-up appointments to complete treatment and later to be certain the cancer doesn’t return, and to monitor his kidney and heart functions, both of which could have been impacted by the radiation and chemotherapies.
Let’s pray for complete and safe recovery for Ihsan, may he recover soon. Aameen. May his parents have happy and easy time with him. Aameen
Lots of prayers for Ihsan and his family. May all the sick children recover soon, and their diseases never come back and may they live normal, healthy life again. Aameen
Note: Names have been changed to protect identity
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