Children Cancer Stories by Rukh Yusuf - Blog # 158
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.
Hepatoblastoma is the type of liver cancer mostly diagnosed in young children. Almost all (95%) children with hepatoblastoma are diagnosed before they are 3 years old. The incidence of hepatoblastoma has doubled in the last 20 years. It is thought that this rise in incidence may be related to the increase in rates of survival of very low birth weight, premature infants who are known to have a higher risk of developing hepatoblastoma than children who were not born prematurely.
Ayan was 18 months old when he was diagnosed with hepatoblastoma. He was having a normal life with his family when his mother realized Ayan was having an enlarged abdomen. To cure him, she used some home remedies first to cure him. Later she had to take Ayan to physician when none of the remedy could cure him. The Physician refereed her to hospital after initial treatment and some tests.
Later in hospital, Ayan was diagnosed with stage III hepatoblastoma. It was in two lobes but could not be removed because it was close enough to the blood vessels in the liver.
His surgery and treatment was planned, it was decided that he will receive chemotherapy first and then his surgery will be decided after the chemotherapy.
Ayan’s chemotherapy was initiated, Ayan carboplatin and Doxorubicin. He had chemotherapy every 2 weeks that usually took an average of 2 days. Ayan received the first round of chemotherapy, and her mother was worried how will he tolerate. After the second round, he was stable. Since his tumor was responding, they decided to stay on the protocol.
Just 10 days after his second birthday, Ayan had a 4-hour operation to remove the entire right lobe of his liver and his gallbladder. During surgery he lost quite a lot of blood and was given five units while in the operating room. He was transferred to ICU and was given another unit of blood and one of platelets. He remained there for only 36 hours and was transferred to the pediatric oncology unit.
By the third day, he was improving. Two weeks after the operation, his chemo was planned again. Her mother has requested for prayers for her little angel with wet eyes.
Let’s pray for Ayan complete recovery and healthy life.
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.
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