Friday, July 1, 2011

Blastoma Cancer Treatment

Blastoma is a form of cancer that is caused by blasts the term associated with precursor cells malignancies. The examples are:
  • Neuropblastoma
  • Retinoblastoma
  • Hepatoblastoma
  • Medulloblatoma
  • Nephrobalastoma
  • Pancreatoblastoma
  • Neuroblastoma
  • Pleuropulmonary blastoma
The disease usually affects children.

Normally cancers among children are not so common that makes it hard for the doctor to treat the illness. They just go for a treatment based on previous observations, those methods that worked well in already affected children. The fact is, over 60 % of the children are treated as a part of a clinical trial.

Affected children are kept in specialized cancer center to ensure his health is improving. Sometimes only one pediatric oncologist works for the recovery from cancer bust mostly a team is formed to carry on the process in collaboration with one another. Various available options are:

Chemotherapy
It is among the most common methods used to cure any cancer. Similarly, Blastoma is also treated with the use of drugs that destroy the cells of the tumor. It is delivered through blood to target all lump cells in the entire body of the child. The treatment may be given in hospital or outpatient clinic. This therapy is especially helpful for patients with Pleuropulmonary blastoma (PPB).

Surgery
The purpose of a surgery is to completely remove tumor cells. In case, the tumor is too large to be removed, the surgeon treated after chemotherapy. Apart from any benefits, surgical treatment has some short-term as well as long-term side-effects.

Radiation therapy
High-energy x-rays or other particles are used to kill the cells of tumor. External beam radiation therapy is the most common type.

The side effects are:
  • Skin problems
  • Gastrointestinal disturbances
  • Fatigue, tiredness, weakness
Most of these effects go away shortly after the treatment is over.

It is imperative to consult an expert oncologist in order to get the right treatment, single or multiple from the above mentioned options.

Related Stories: