For children where the tumor is confined to the eye and has not spread systemically or into the orbit or brain, the cure rate is high. Other children with the genetic form of retinoblastoma, the risk is high for developing subsequent malignancies, most commonly sarcomas. While those children with the heritable form of the disease who were exposed to ionizing radiation at age less than one year this risk is greater. Genetic counseling in families with retinoblastoma is an important aspect in their care and should be coordinated with a medical geneticist or genetic counselor that is part of the retinoblastoma team.

Parents would do everything they can to try and keep kids from becoming ill or feeling pain. Though parents describe the day of their child’s cancer diagnosis as “the day their world fell apart”. When a child is diagnosed with chronic illness, it’s ordinary for parents to feel guilt and sadness. Anger is also common. You may feel angry toward your partner, the world or even, at times, toward your child. These feelings are normal.

Addressing your child’s medical condition directly is the best way to move forward. According to Norberg, A.L., Lindblad, F., and Borman, K.K. (2005), A study on parents of children with cancer, found those parents who took action and focused on the problem experienced lower levels of anxiety and depression than parents who denied or avoided the situation.

COPING WITH STRESS AND ANXIETY

There are parents who cope well with the stress and anxiety exerted by their child’s diagnosis and treatment. They usually reach within themselves to find strength and skills to traverse the experience. Parents should be aware of the effects such as trauma for the family, adjusting expectations and parenting styles according to their changeable needs. This is not one of those ordinary experience though. Most of these families undergo anxieties and short tempers, as well as periods of genuine calm. Most of them do survive the condition together and frequently emerge to make the family unit stronger and more understanding of one another.

DEALING WITH ANGER

Anger is a common reaction to retinoblastoma, but this cancer is mediocrity’s accountability. The cause of the genetic changes that spark eye cancer in children is unknown. When a child suffers, we usually result to find something or someone to blame most especially when we are not familiar on the illness the child is suffering. Parents would sometimes often unload their anger or rage on medical staff, their partners, through themselves, friends and relatives, and even their children. Unraveled rages can be especially destructive in times of crisis, especially when experienced by a child with cancer or their siblings. Be aware that you are more possible to have a short temper when you are under stress. Be upbeat in reducing or omitting stress, and know how to manage your anger or even to set aside your anger entirely, as this will lessen the risk of undesirable outbreaks.

COMMUNICATE AND VENT OUT

Communication is a great tool. If you have a difference with your child’s doctors, better to address and discuss your concerns immediately. By this, you are well composed and prepared to talk openly and deliberately compared to rush talk, tense or outburst once you bump into hallways. It is important to ask the doctor or nurse to explain things that you do not understand or things that you have discussed before to explain to you once again.

People respond more positively and calmly when you ask questions properly or discussions are not argumentative. Avoid to irritate the person, might be the doctor or nurse, when you have discussions. Talk to them early to avoid unnecessary misunderstanding and anguish. Make sure that when you talk, you take your time, especially when you’re talking to your child’s doctors or even your partner when you are both composed. The risk of discussions sinking into a slanging match is high when either of you is very anxious.

REACH OUT TO RETINOBLASTOMA COMMUNITY

Try to connect with other family. Sharing of experiences, discussions and small talks will help you feel relieved and the fact that you are not the only one experiencing this challenge is a great relief. Reaching with other families of children who have the same condition and same situation having diagnosed with retinoblastoma, and build relationships with them like read other children’s stories, talk with parents while waiting on clinics, join an online retinoblastoma community, join or start a retinoblastoma / cancer support group.

STAYING ACTIVE AND POSITIVE

Seek constructive ways to release your tension before it fall over into anger that will not only affect others but also yourself. Activities such as exercise, or dancing each day helps release tense and anxiety. Walking or running is another way to release tense. Some household chores like gardening, cleaning of clutter, home arrangement and even cooking and baking is a big help. Writing down your daily experience or video blog is also helpful working through anger and anxiety.

Releasing your feelings through voice in a safe environment like beach or climbing a mountain often eases their power over you. Try to breathe fresh air, it helps cease stress. Breathing exercises can rapidly reduce anxiety and stress. Solely taking a deep in breath and slow, regular out breath helps calm the body and focus the mind. Run-through this easy technique when you are already calm, to upkeep you in moments of crisis. Listen to soft music with a gentle rhythm is also a very powerful way to relax the body and mind.

EYE Screening

Our eyes are the window of our soul. A baby can only first see just a light, second colors, and then third faces. It is how important the eyes are. It is one of the most sensitive and critical part of an infant and it should be given a priority through eye screening. Eye specialists use new technologies to detect eye problems especially in infants who are observed to have difficulties in focusing on something and are easily agitated by too much light. Eye screening can detect genetic or acquired form of eye disease.

Retinoblastoma (Rb) in Children

One type of eye disease is Retinoblastoma. This is a rare disease mostly occur in children ages 2 years old and below and it is commonly known as Pediatric Retinoblastoma. It is where a cancer cell is progressively mutating to kill the healthy cells which develops into a tumor in the retina and will spread further on other parts of the body like the brain, spine, skull, and bone marrow.

Can Retinoblastoma be treated?

Retinoblastoma is treatable but is dependent on how early the cancer is detected. Also, the parents play a very important role in communicating to their doctor or specialist of all family histories and backgrounds especially if the same happened to a relative or a member of the family. If it is already a genetic disease they suspect to be passed-on to their child, early screening like Prenatal Screening for retinoblastoma is done with the parent’s approval of the test. This is a very sensitive kind of test so if the parents decided to discard this option they are advised to do Newborn screening immediately after giving birth. This is to check if gene mutation is inherited by their child and also to monitor the progression of the disease. Regular eye check-ups is then necessary especially if it is a hereditary type of retinoblastoma.

Forms of Retinoblastoma

There are two forms of Retinoblastoma: Heritable and Non-heritable.
Heritable retinoblastoma is when there is a family history that the disease already occurred. Second, if there is a mutation or change in the RB1 gene. In this form, a tumor maybe developed not only in one eye or both eyes are affected.

Non-heritable retinoblastoma developed much later in the child’s life compared with a child that has a heritable form of retinoblastoma. Most cases occur when the child ages 5 years old and below. This is caused by an isolated genetic mutation in which both parents don’t have the said gene. The cancer appears only in one eye of the patient and if treated earlier, have a higher chance of recovery and non-occurrence of the cancer. Physicians still don’t know the cause of a non-heritable retinoblastoma that develops to children.

Treatment for Retinoblastoma

Retinoblastoma treatment is a journey, not only to the child but to the parents as well. There are different ways in treating retinoblastoma. It depends on what stage the prognosis of the doctor is and what type of treatment should the child undergo. Here are some of the tests available for the parents to choose from:

• Eye Screening & Eye Examinations
• MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
• CT (Computerized Tomography) Scan
• RB1 Gene Test
• Ultrasound Exam of the Eye
• Fluorescein Angiography
• Fine Needle Biopsy
• Cytogenetics and Gene Expression Profiling
• Tests for Metastases
• Chemotherapy
• Focal Therapy

Continuous tests and examinations should be done even after a child undergoes a therapy and was cleared by the doctor since there is a tendency for the cancer to recur. Parents should be very observant of the symptoms of retinoblastoma or other types of cancer in order to address the child’s concerns or to ease the pain or discomforts they feel as early as possible.

If you or a loved one have suffered injury, or even death, due to pediatric retinoblastoma, call Dellecker, Wilson, King, McKenna, Ruffier & Sos, LLP as soon as possible. We’ll work to earn you the compensation you deserve.

Proving Pediatric Retinoblastoma Malpractice

In order to be pediatric retinoblastoma malpractice, four conditions must be proved:

• A patient/doctor relationship existed: The accused doctor must have been in a patient/doctor relationship with the patient.
• Breach of duty of care by the medical professional: Doctors owe a high duty of care to their patients, a level of treatment equal to similarly trained professionals in their field. If the doctor does not meet this standard, a breach of the duty of care occurs. This breach of a duty can either be an act or failure to act.
• Causation of injury to the patient: This breach of the duty of care must lead to the patient’s injury. For example, if the doctor improperly diagnoses pediatric retinoblastoma and the patient is injured due to this negligence, this is causation.
• Damages to the patient: Damages must be shown to have occurred, including pain and suffering, medical bills, lost wages, and more.

Your Rights

If you, your child, or a loved one has been injured as a result of pediatric retinoblastoma malpractice, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. You’ll need an experienced lawyer on your side, because hospitals, doctors, and insurance companies often have great legal teams.

Call us or come in for a free consultation. We have the expertise and knowledge you need.

Monetary Damages

In a case of pediatric retinoblastoma malpractice, like all cases of medical malpractice, you may be entitled to monetary damages. These damages include compensation for physical, mental, and emotional pain and suffering, medical bills, and lost future earning potential.

Pediatric retinoblastoma malpractice occurs when a doctor’s negligence, whether by misdiagnosis of the condition, delayed diagnosis, or improper treatment, causes injury to the patient.

If you or a loved one suffered injury or death due to pediatric retinoblastoma, call Dellecker, Wilson, King, McKenna, Ruffier & Sos, LLP as soon as possible. We’ll work to earn you the compensation you deserve.

You Need An Experienced Attorney

Hospitals, doctors, and insurance companies all may have experienced legal counsel on their side. In order to present your best case, and have the best chance to receive the compensation you deserve, you need an experienced attorney, too.

We here at Dellecker, Wilson, King, McKenna, Ruffier & Sos have the experience and knowledge your need to succeed. We’ll help you collect evidence, understand your rights, and determine the value of your case.

Malpractice Due To Delayed Diagnosis

An estimated 1 in 15,000 children under the age of three has pediatric retinoblastoma. Untreated, the disease can be fatal. But with early detection, 90% of children are cured.

Unfortunately, pediatric retinoblastoma is often not diagnosed in checkups. Delayed diagnosis of the disease by a doctor, which leads to injury, may be pediatric retinoblastoma malpractice. For example, if the doctor fails to refer the child to a pediatric retinoblastoma specialist when appropriate.

Malpractice Due To Misdiagnosis

Similarly, if your child’s doctor has failed to identify or investigate symptoms of pediatric retinoblastoma, and misdiagnosed the disease, that may be malpractice. For example, when the doctor fails to identify certain symptoms or properly interpret or read test results from the lab. If this occurs, you may be entitled to compensation.

Malpractice Due To Negligent Treatment

After diagnosis, if treatment has been improper or negligent, you may be entitled to compensation.
For example, if the doctor fails to perform the correct tests for the child’s symptoms or administers a treatment that the child’s symptoms do not warrant. Or if the doctor performs an improper test or does not appropriately follow up with the child after testing or treatment. You may be entitled to compensation.