Warriors and Survivors -100

 Children Cancer Stories by Rukh Yusuf - Blog # 100

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 have mixed feeling while writing one hundredth blog and, it’s not happy feeling or sense of achievement. Rather it’s a bit of sadness for these hundred children, few of them are not in this world anymore, and many are still suffering in silence. I could write about only one hundred of them and there are so many more in hospital, more in my city, and a lot more across the whole country in different pediatric oncology centers.

These flowers need attention, we need to save them from this disease. Cancer is affecting our new generation badly. Many have lost their lives and thousands are suffering badly.

14-year-old Zoya is set to have her fifth chemo cycle after complaints of pain in her ankle that led to her being diagnosed with an aggressive form of bone cancer.

Zoya, from Lahore, came home from school one day complaining of a hurt ankle. She thought she has run a lot that day, so it was hurting. Her mother massaged her ankle and gave some pain killer. The next day, her ankle got swollen and her father thought it to be routine with kids running around. Initially, the girl's parents were not too worried about the ankle pain. But as time went on, their concerns grew.

A couple weeks went by, and her ankle was still hurting. Her mother looked at her ankle, it was really swollen, the tips of her toes were starting to twitch.

The parents took their daughter to be assessed by doctors and then they reached finally to children hospital, and she was eventually diagnosed with stage 3 osteosarcoma which was non metastatic.

Osteosarcoma is a type of bone cancer that often arises in the wide ends of long bones, such as the femur and tibia in the upper and lower leg, and the humerus in the upper arm, although it can also begin elsewhere in the body.

According to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, osteosarcoma is the most common type of bone cancer in children and teens and is the third most common cancer in teens overall, after lymphomas and brain tumors. Around 400 children and teens are diagnosed with osteosarcoma every year in the United States. Most cases occur in children and young adults after the age of 10. The cancer is extremely rare in children aged below 5 years old. In around 15-20 percent of cases, the cancer has spread by the time it is diagnosed, according to St Jude's. It typically spreads to the lungs, but also sometimes to other bones beyond the initial site.

Zoya’s parents were scared after their child's diagnosis, with doctors telling them that it will be a lengthy treatment. Zoya had to undergo chemotherapy to treat her cancer. Its Allah’s mercy that her disease is still non metastatic and has not reached her lungs.

Zoya has four other sisters, and all are students and Zoya is also student of 9^th grade. Zoya wishes for higher studies.

Five chemotherapy courses have been completed, but since a week Zoya is not feeling well. She is having mouth sores and she has become very weak. But she is hopeful about her recovery and still smiles. She believes she will be fine soon. "I know after a certain thing happens, I'm going to be completely fine, I'm not worried at all about the future," Zoya said.

Zoya’s father works as Photographer in a local firm and he has been spending all his savings for his daughter’s treatment. "Our savings have been consumed and I am humbling myself to ask for help, said her parents. They need support now.

Zoya is under treatment again; she is hopeful that she will be cured soon. Let’s pray that she recovers soon, and her disease never comes back. Aameen

Let’s pray for the early and complete recovery of Zoya, may she recover soon and able to see the world and her dreams come true again, Aameen. May her parents be able to smoothly complete her treatment.

Lots of prayers for Zoya and her 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

Warriors and Survivors - 99

Children Cancer Stories by Rukh Yusuf - Blog # 99

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. 

Last January, as he started sixth grade, Abdul Rafay’s neck became swollen and lumpy. It was so pronounced that several friends at school asked what was wrong. His parents took Abdul Rafay, who was only 8 at that time, to a local doctor, who prescribed symptomatically.

In the next few months, Abdul Rafay’s parents, become increasingly concerned due to increasing lumps. They took him to The Children’s Hospital Lahore.

After examining Abdul Rafay’s neck, Dr. said he was concerned about the swelling in the lymph nodes. He wanted them to see an oncologist.

In a couple of days, the child was seen by oncologist, and he prescribed some tests after thorough examination and history. After chest X-rays and other tests, Doctor told the family he would recommend lymph-node biopsy. One possibility, doctor told them, was lymphoma, and the only way to get a definitive diagnosis of lymphoma is biopsy.

Two days later, Abdul Rafay was admitted to hospital for surgery. Doctor removed three lymph nodes and sent them to pathologists for evaluation. After a week, the family received the biopsy report. It was the hardest day of the family; Abdul Rafay was diagnosed with cancer: Hodgkin lymphoma.

The parents remember that time as incredibly scary and painful. “You feel incredibly alone on the day that you get the diagnosis,” mother recalls. “We didn't understand his illness or what paths this could take us down.”

After a couple of weeks, they began chemotherapy. Abdul Rafay received the chemo as an outpatient at Children hospital initially, then he had to be admitted in the hospital off and on whenever he had some serious concerns or infection. Five chemotherapy cycles passed in six months like this. 

It was a difficult time. Abdul Rafay was not able to attend school frequently but kept up with his schoolwork. He was admitted to hospital’s oncology unit several times for close monitoring when he became ill. Through it all, Abdul Rafay was so down, and weak and he forgot to smile even but stood up for his treatment and always cooperated for his treatment. He also stayed on-point as a caring elder brother to four siblings. He maintained that even when he was at his sickest.

One of his chemotherapy drugs, doxorubicin, is red and causes tears and urine to turn red. Abdul Rafay wondered why the drug is red. The nurses introduced him to see the pharmacist(me), who tailors chemotherapy doses for each patient. I explained that the drug is red because it is derived from a bacterium, and it is this organism that is responsible for producing the red pigment. Abdul Rafay was fascinated. Though the work of pharmacists is of utmost importance to their patients, often the two hardly meet. Abdul Rafay began stopping back to see me during his visits. We explained each drug given to him during treatment and why it is prescribed for Hodgkin lymphoma.

Abdul Rafay was getting better and now it was his time to tests for remission, but to the surprise, he was in relapse. It was scariest moment. Doctors discussed his case in meeting and decided to treat him as per his current labs. 

Abdul Rafay is under treatment again; he is hopeful that he will be cured soon. Let’s pray that he recovers soon, and his disease never comes back. Aameen

Let’s pray for the early and complete recovery of Abdul Rafay, may he recover soon and able to see the world and his dreams come true again, Aameen. May her mother be able to see her child healthy and thriving again. 

Lots of prayers for Abdul Rafay 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

Warriors and Survivors - 98

Children Cancer Stories by Rukh Yusuf - Blog # 98

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. 

It’s another sad or I would say probably the saddest warrior story of the child, Sher Ali. Sher Ali is only six years old, and he is having Leukemia. Saddest part is Sher Ali’s father is an addict. He is not able to understand his son’s major illness. The poor child has two sisters and one brother, and his mother is really a brave woman who is not only fighting with her son’s disease but also bringing up her children as a single parent. She is also looking after her husband despite the fact that he is addict and he does not take care of his family. The lady is really a lioness, and her son is a lion like Sher Ali. She deserves all the kindness and support one can offer. 

Sher Ali belongs to a town near Lahore, his father was earning few years back, but then he started using drugs. Soon he became addict and now he has left with nothing except debt and bad health. Most of the time he is not in his senses. Whenever he does, he always looks for money to buy more drugs. This kind of Father Sher Ali has at this young age with a serious disease. 

One year ago, when Sher Ali was diagnosed with Leukemia, not to mention how evil this news would be for the mother and children, not for the father as he has lost his senses. The mother brought her child to Children’s hospital for treatment. Reaching Tertiary care treatment point from a periphery is a triumph. She did that and when the doctors told her that it will be more than three years treatment, the news was hard to digest for her. But she did and her son’s treatment was initiated. It was the most painful time for her, even more than her husband’s addiction. 

The brave lady continued her son’s medication and chemotherapy while staying at hospital for as long as three months in a go. Leaving other children at home with father was another trial; the father who was unable to feed them. 

Despite all these hurdles, she has managed to complete Sher Ali’s several chemotherapy cycles and he is in the midst of his treatment now. In all this painful journey, Sher Ali sometimes looks better and sometimes he seems more down. But Allah has granted both of them courage to fight the disease, so they are on it. 

But she sometimes seems defeated now. There is still a long way to go, almost half of the treatment has been done and they have to be strong enough for the rest of the trial. She is fighting multiple battles at a time and that is the major reason she looks tired and defeated. May she win all her battles. Aameen 

Let’s pray for the early and complete recovery of Sher Ali, may he recover soon and able to see the world and his dreams come true again, Aameen. May her mother be able to see her child healthy and thriving again. May his father soon become a normal, responsible father to look after for his responsibilities. Aameen

Lots of prayers for Sher Ali 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 

Warriors and Survivors - 97

Children Cancer Stories by Rukh Yusuf - Blog # 97

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. 

Sometimes it is hard to decide from where to start, there are so many real-life stories that need to be told. Pain is all around us that never ends. All the stories are similar but different as well. Similar in the sense that pain is common in all of them and different as everyone has his/her own troubles and grief. 

For me and all the readers, it’s just another story but for someone, it’s their whole life, a painful life. 

Our today’s warrior is Zohan, he is hardly nine years old now. When he was seven, he came to oncology ward for the first time. He was in severe pain and his family was in great trouble when he first came to oncology ward. Then gradually his pain started settling down when his treatment stared and so was his family’s troubles. His parents had a new life along with Zohan, as he started responding to treatment.

Zohan is from Manawan city, and his father works as a plumber. His mother used to bring him for chemotherapy session for more than two years. But all the efforts paid off when Zohan tests were normal after two and half years of treatment. 

Couple of years went smoothly, Zohan and his parents were dreaming for a better life for him. One day when he woke up, he was unable to see, it was a terrible shock for the little soul and his parents. 

 They rushed to hospital again, Oncology doctors referred to Eye specialist and when he was examined for eye, they advised his follow up blood test to rule out his disease relapse. He was again admitted to oncology unit for follow up tests. 

In few days he was hepatitis A positive, and his eyes were yellow. He is presently admitted in the ICU and his treatment is continued. By Allah’s Grace, his follow up tests are normal, his blasts cells are within the limit but still he is unbale to see. 

Further investigations and treatment are continued and Zohan is too much worried as he is afraid of darkness which is all around him since so many days. 

His parents are doing every bit they are able to do. The little soul cries a lot, everyone stops to see him but then get busy in their routine. Maybe I am doing the same. May his tears bring light in his world again as all the tears are not evil. Aameen 

Let’s pray for the early and complete recovery of Zohan, may he recover soon and able to see the world and dreams again, Aameen

Lots of prayers for Zohan 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 

Warriors and Survivors - 96

Children Cancer Stories by Rukh Yusuf - Blog # 96

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. 

15th February, an International Childhood Cancer Day is a global collaborative campaign to raise awareness about childhood cancer, and to express support for children and adolescents with cancer, the survivors, and their families.

Every year, more than 400,000 children and adolescents below 20, are diagnosed with cancer. The rate of survival depends on the region, with 80% survival in most High-Income Countries but as low as 20% only in Low- and Middle-Income Countries. In Pakistan, it is still between 20 to 25%.

The Target Goal of the WHO Global Childhood Cancer Initiative is to eliminate all pain and suffering of children fighting cancer and achieve at least 60% survival for all children diagnosed with cancer around the world by 2030.This represents an approximate doubling of the current cure rate so that an additional one million children’s lives may be saved over the next decade.

The day promotes increased appreciation and deeper understanding of issues and challenges relevant to childhood cancer and impacting children/adolescents with cancer, the survivors, their families, and the society as a whole.
It also spotlights the need for more equitable and better access to treatment and care for all children with cancer, everywhere.

This annual event was created in 2002 by Childhood Cancer International, a global network of
183 parent organizations, childhood cancer survivor associations, childhood cancer support groups, and cancer societies, in over 94 countries, across 5 continents.

The International Childhood Cancer Day is based on Childhood Cancer International’s (CCI) core belief that every child and adolescent with cancer deserves the best possible medical and psychosocial care, regardless of country of origin, race, financial status, or social class.

It is also anchored on the premise that childhood cancer deaths are avoidable, with timely and accurate diagnosis, availability, and access to quality essential medicines as well as proper treatment and care. 

On International Childhood Cancer Day, all members of Childhood Cancer International stand united to make childhood cancer a national and global child health priority to ensure there are adequate resources to meet the basic rights of children with cancer. We believe those basic rights for all children diagnosed with cancer include:

• The right to early and proper diagnosis

• The right to access life-saving essential medicines

• The right to appropriate and quality medical treatments, and

• The right to follow up care, services, and sustainable livelihood opportunities for survivors.

Furthermore, if a cure is not attainable, CCI stands by the right of the child to experience a pain-free death. While unfathomable in developed countries, the shocking reality for a majority of low-middle income nations is that children suffering from cancer will die excruciating deaths without any supportive care or pain management.

The story behind the Gold Ribbon;

Childhood cancer cure is considered a “modern day miracle” due to the significant increase in survival rates especially in developed, high income countries.
Childhood cancer is now the leading cause of non-communicable disease related death among children and adolescents in developed and developing countries. In some countries, deaths due to childhood cancer are more than the combined deaths from all types of childhood illnesses.

Due to lack of attention on development of less toxic drugs and targeted treatments, a large percentage of survivors of childhood cancer suffer life limiting conditions.

The Gold Ribbon Campaign is for the Heroes within our midst. The children and adolescents who bravely and courageously make an effort against cancer; 
the survivors who beat cancer; The families who fearlessly live with the realities of cancer and with the loss of a precious child; and, the volunteers, staff and medical practitioners who passionately serve and dedicate their time to the childhood cancer community.

In developing countries, mortality due to childhood cancer is attributed to several interrelated factors such as: lack of awareness and information on childhood cancer; delayed or wrong diagnosis; lack of access to quality cost-effective essential medicines and treatment; lack of access to trained healthcare providers.; and, weak health infrastructure.

On 15 Feb International childhood cancer day is also celebrated in Children’s hospital, Lahore, Pakistan. Oncology unit management and our social worker/philanthropist Apa Farida manages to make it an event. A fun fair kind of arrangement is being done in hospital by her every year. All admitted and those who come for their chemo are invited with their parents and relatives to have awareness and enjoy a day.

Lots of prayers for the all the sick children and their families. Let’s pray that ICCD’s is successful in decreasing the childhood cancer globally. May all the sick children recover soon, and their diseases never come back and may they live normal healthy life again. Aameen

Note: Content source ICCD 

Warriors and Survivors - 95

Children Cancer Stories by Rukh Yusuf - Blog # 94

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. 

Mehwish is only 13 years old and very decent child. She is like most other girls of her age. 

She was alright few months ago when she had a fever. Then it was a routine, she used to have intermittent fever with bone pain. Later she was diagnosed as Philadelphia positive pre–B ALL i.e. Blood cancer.

Her father is a street vendor who sells vegetables, and she has only one brother who is elder to her. Daughters are blessings and when she is the youngest and the only one, she is life for whole family. She is only female child of her parents. 

Her disease was a major issue for all three members of the family. They consulted a private hospital but could not end up getting treatment from there. 

They rushed to another hospital and finally landed in Children’s hospital. Mehwish was already worried due to her disease, and she was even depressed seeing so many children in Oncology ward. She said, she forgot her own disease seeing so young children suffering with this deadly disease. 

She used to talk to children and often try to calm them down, counseling them, playing with them. She said, it’s very difficult to see them fighting with this disease. As long as Mehwish stays in Cancer unit with other children, she always tries to bring happiness for other children by talking or helping them, giving them hope. 

It's a great blessing that you help others while fighting with your own luck. Very few people are blessed with this ability to care for others while they are suffering themselves. Wiping others tears while crying yourself is a special human trait. This little 13 years old has this trait, a trait which is extremely rare. 

The world may become a great place if not heaven if we all have this ability to help others while struggling with our own hardships. Everyone has his own share of grief and problems, how you handle them or how you behave while going through these hardships define your life. 

I am impressed by this little pure soul who not only prays for all patients, but she is very much worried for her parents. She wants to live for her parents. She is worried what will her parents do without her. She wants to live for them.  

Mehwish has her five chemotherapy courses by now and she is waiting for rest of the treatment. It’s Allah’s special blessing on her that her treatment is smooth so far. May it go smoother till the end. 

Mehwish wishes to eradicate this disease so that no child and parent would have to suffer like this. May her dream come true someday. Aameen

Sincere prayers for Mehwish and her family. May she live a healthy long life. Aameen.

Lot of prayers for the family. Let’s pray for the full recovery of Mehwish and ease of her parents. May her disease never come back and may she live normal healthy life again. Aameen

May Allah recover all patients. May Allah ease and cure all patients and cancer warriors. 

Note: Names have been changed to protect identity

Warriors and Survivors - 94

Children Cancer Stories by Rukh Yusuf - Blog #94

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. 

In the U.S., more than 15,000 children are diagnosed with cancer every year. With the treatments available today, 80 % of these children survive.

While in Pakistan, 7,000 to 8,000 children are diagnosed with cancer every year, out of which 60 to 80 % do not survive. On the surface, that sounds like bad news, but these numbers don’t tell the whole story. The real numbers may be worse than this. Due to the poor facilities, it is easily predictable that most of children do not get to diagnostic and treatment facilities and so the real number of children with cancer could be far more than this.  

There are multiple reasons for this high prevalence and poor outcome, which I have mentioned in my previous blogs. With this alarming number, will we ever be able to take measures to control the disease and improve the outcome? This cruel disease is playing with our young generation, our future. 

Let’s know about another affectee, 10 years old Iqra from Muridke. Iqra was a fun-loving little girl with an irrepressible sense of humor. Strong and determined, her courage inspired all those who knew her.

Iqra was just eight years old when she fell while playing with her friends. She got hit on back and there was no wound, just a minor bruise. Her mother also noticed a bruise on her back. Both of them did not care much about it as it was not a big deal at that time.

With each passing day, she had pain in her back on the spot, soon the pain got worse. Iqra was seen by a doctor, and he advised some pain killers and local application. But Iqra did not get better.

It was a serious matter by now, parents were worried and consulted some other physicians and they referred for more tests. With each new scan, parents’ anxiety grew. Eventually, the doctors gave them the shocking news: Iqra had Ewing Sarcoma. Her little body was battling with cancer. Iqra was losing her ability to walk and speak in under two years, she was not able to have voluntary control of her lower body. 

Her backbone surgery was done and doctors said she will be able to walk soon. But it took her longer than expected to walk again. She was too weak to walk. 

Iqra went through six cycles of chemotherapy. By the end of two and a half years, it appeared that the treatment was working. But sometimes when she had some complications, both parents’ anxiety went high. Iqra had to go through radiation therapy as well.

Though life was not very easy and happy before cancer, but diagnosis and treatment of cancer was the hardest part in the life of this family. “It seems every moment was terrible”, her mother said. 

Iqra has completed her chemotherapy cycles and she has left for her hometown. She is on follow up now. She was very happy on the day of her last chemo but not as happy and as carefree as she used to be before this disease. 

Lot of prayers for the family. Let’s pray for the full recovery of Iqra and ease of her parents. Prayers that Iqra remains healthy, always. Aameen. May her disease never come back and may she live normal healthy life again. Aameen

May Allah recover all patients. May Allah ease and cure all patients and cancer warriors. 

Note: Names have been changed to protect identity