The treatment of retinoblastoma is often dependent on the individual sufferer in question. Many variables must be considered by the doctors involved. The age of the child, whether or not the cancer has spread to other areas of the body such as the brain or central nervous system and if the retinoblastoma has presented in just one or both eyes are just some of the considered questions.
A lack of treatment would result in the probable death of the child, and naturally, this is not a common option. Depending on how early the retinoblastoma is diagnosed, the goal of treatment varies. Sometimes the goal is to save life. At other times, the considerations are more cosmetic such as preserving the appearance of the eye and face or perhaps more importantly, maintaining the vision in that eye or both eyes.
The most commonly used treatment for Retinoblastoma is called Enucleation. Enucleation is a procedure whereby the eye is surgically removed in order that the cancer itself can be removed. The child is put to sleep and the eye is then removed. The operation typically takes less than an hour to complete and is not painful. The areas surrounding the eye, such as brow and...