INTRODUCTION
Hearing that your child has cancer can be shocking and overwhelming. At first it may be difficult to accept the diagnosis and to see your child in the hospital, or beginning treatment. However, the reality of the situation will become easier to accept with time and information. Educating yourself on your child’s diagnosis, treatment plan, and possible side effects, and familiarizing yourself with the members of your child’s healthcare team and resources available, may help ease some of the feelings surrounding the diagnosis and treatment.
WHAT IS RETINOBLASTOMA?
Retinoblastoma is a cancer of one or both eyes which usually occurs in children who are younger than 5 years of age. The tumor(s) occur in the retina (the innermost layer of the eyeball), which is the area of the eye containing nerves that control vision. Retinoblastoma is the most common intraocular (eye) childhood cancer and has an excellent prognosis, with a greater than 95% cure rate if the disease is contained within the retina when diagnosed. There are 2 forms of retinoblastoma, unilateral (one eye involved) and bilateral (both eyes involved). The majority of patients have unilateral disease and are diagnosed around 2 years of age. The remaining patients have bilateral tumors and are usually diagnosed at a younger age (often during the first year of life and rarely after 2 years of age).
STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF THE EYE
It is helpful to know the names, locations, and functions of the structures of the eye to understand your child’s tumor. The eye has three layers from front to back: Sclera: the white outer covering that protects the eye Choroid: the middle layer, which contains the blood vessels that bring nourishment to the eye Retina: the inner layer, which contains the nerves that send messages to the brain for sight Other structures of the eye include the following: Cornea: the clear portion at the front of the eye through which light rays pass Conjunctiva: a thin membrane that lines the outside of the eye Iris: the colored part of the eye
Pupil: the black opening in the middle of the iris that allows light into the eye Lens: the area behind the iris and pupil that focuses light onto the retina Vitreous humor: a gel-filled chamber of the eye that nourishes the eye and gives it shape Macula: the part of the retina that provides central vision Optic nerve: the nerve that carries messages from the eye to the brain
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Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses (APHON)
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