what soap actress has a child with retinablastoma?

Answer 1

Hunter Tylo from B&B had one, but that was years ago. Haven't heard of any recently.

Answer 2

Retinoblastoma
What is it?
Retinoblastoma is a childhood cancer that occurs in the retina. The retina is the area at the back of the eye that senses light. A blastoma is a tumor made up of abnormal and immature cells.

Who gets it?
Retinoblastoma accounts for around 3% of cancers in children under the age of 15. It is the only common cancer of the eye that occurs in children.

What causes it?
As a fetus develops, cells called retinoblasts grow in the eyes. Sometimes, however, the retinoblasts don't stop growing. When this happens, they form a cancer. The reason for this out of control growth seems to be a mutation in the retinoblastoma gene, called RB1. Retinoblastoma can be inherited. Approximately 10% of children with retinoblastoma have a relative with the disease. Or, the gene mutation can occur spontaneously; that is, for no apparent reason. If the cell growth is not stopped with treatment, the cells can form a tumor that fills the eyeball.

What are the symptoms?
Retinoblastoma can occur in one or both eyes, with 20 - 30% of children with retinoblastoma having the cancer in both eyes. The symptoms of retinoblastoma are a white pupil, or an odd look to the eye, such as cross eyes. The child may lose his or her central vision. A very small percentage of patients will have glaucoma, accompanied by painful, red eyes. Glaucoma, a condition in which high pressures in the eyeball damage the optic nerve, occurs when the tumor blocks the circulation of fluid in the eye. The tumor cells can break off from the main tumor and travel to other areas of the eye, where they form new tumors. Retinoblastoma cells can also spread to other areas of the body, and may reach the brain by growing along the optic nerve. If untreated, retinoblastoma can lead to blindness.

How is it diagnosed?
Most cases of retinoblastoma are diagnosed before the age of five by a doctor called an ophthamologist, which is a doctor specializing in the eye. Retinoblastoma of both eyes is usually diagnosed at a younger age than cases involving only one eye. If your doctor suspects your child has retinoblastoma, he or she will perform a thorough examination of the eyes. An examination for retinoblastoma takes time and must be performed carefully, so your child will be placed under anesthesia so that he or she will remain still. A diagnosis of retinoblastoma is made based upon the appearance of the tumor in the eye. Your doctor may also recommend a computed tomography (CT) scan of the eye to check the condition of the optic nerve and the extent to which the cancer has spread. Your doctor may also want to examine a sample of your child's cerebrospinal fluid and bone marrow to ensure the cancer has not spread to the brain or bone.

What is the treatment?
Treatment of retinoblastoma depends upon the size and location of the tumor, and whether the cancer has spread. Over 90% of all retinoblastomas that have not spread beyond the eye are cured. The standard treatment is radiation therapy of the eye to control tumor growth. If the tumor growth cannot be controlled, or the child has lost vision or has glaucoma in the affected eye, the entire eyeball is removed. The child is then fitted with a prosthetic, or artificial, eye. Chemotherapy, which is an anticancer drug treatment, may also be used, especially in cases where the cancer has spread beyond the eye. Microsurgical techniques may be used to remove or destroy retinoblastomas when both eyes are affected to preserve sight in at least one eye. Children with the inherited form of retinoblastoma are more likely to develop a second cancer later in life.

Self-care tips
If your child has retinoblastoma, gather all the information you can from your doctor. Make sure you understand the condition, the size and location of your child's tumor, and your treatment options. Your doctor may recommend examining other immediate family members for retinoblastoma, especially any brothers or sisters of the child. Adults should be examined for retinocytoma, which is a noncancerous tumor caused by the same RB1 gene. Even if an examination shows no evidence of cancer, you may want to undergo genetic testing to see if you carry the retinoblastoma gene.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This information has been designed as a comprehensive and quick reference guide written by our health care reviewers. The health information written by our authors is intended to be a supplement to the care provided by your physician. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice.

Answer 3

yeah hunter tylo which is taylor the popular brunette!, xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx