Radiation Therapy Radiation therapy is a special kind of X-ray treatment. Radiation treatment is very precise and is given in specially measured amounts by radiation therapy experts. Radiation often is used together with chemotherapy. The purpose of radiation therapy is to kill cells that may have escaped from the tumor. Wilms tumor cells are often very sensitive and easily killed by radiation. Usually children with Stage I or Stage II disease do not receive radiation because surgery is the better option for them. If radiation is necessary for your child, the radiation- therapy team will discuss with you exactly how the radiation will be given and how long the treatments will last. In general, children experience very few side effects while they are getting radiation therapy. Some children may be more tired than usual or have decreased appetites. There can also be long-term side effects, which will be explained to you in detail.
n HOW LONG WILL MY CHILD’S THERAPY LAST? The length of treatment will depend on the stage of the tumor. Chemotherapy treatment generally lasts 5–7 months. It involves weekly visits to the clinic for chemotherapy, blood tests, or both.
n WHAT NEW METHODS OF TREATMENT ARE THERE? According to the American Cancer Society, over 90% of children survive Wilms tumor. Because most children with Wilms tumor are cured of their disease, researchers are looking at ways to fine-tune the treatment. Children with a good prognosis (favorable outcome) may require less treatment in the future. Children with unfavorable histology (the study of microscopic tissue structure) or with metastasis
may require more intensive treatment. Effective treatments are being developed for the 10%–15% of children who have a recurrence (repeated appearance) of Wilms tumor. New studies will help us see if current genetic markers are associated with the aggressiveness of the tumor or how the tumor responds to treatment.
Most of the advances in the treatment of childhood cancer have been made through a process known as clinical trials. In clinical trials, the best-known (standard) treatment for a particular cancer is compared to a new (research) treatment that is believed to be at least as good as, and possibly better than, the standard treatment. Clinical trials allow the medical team to determine whether promising new treatments are safe and effective. Participation in clinical trials is voluntary. Because clinical trials involve research into new treatment plans, all risks cannot be known ahead of time, and unknown side effects may occur. On the other hand, children who participate in clinical trials may be among the first to benefit from new treatment approaches. Before making a decision about your child’s participation in a clinical trial, the potential risks and benefits should be discussed with your child’s medical team. More information about clinical trials is available at www.cancer.gov/research/areas/clinical-trials. You can also call 800.4CANCER (800.422.6237).
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