Thermotherapy involves the use of heat to destroy cancer cells. Thermotherapy may be given using a laser beam aimed through the dilated pupil or onto the outside of the eyeball, or using ultrasound, microwaves, or infrared radiation (light that cannot be seen but can be felt as heat).

 

Chemotherapy is a cancer treatment that uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping the cells from dividing. When chemotherapy is taken by mouth or injected into a vein or muscle, the drugs enter the bloodstream and reach cancer cells throughout the body (systemic chemotherapy). When chemotherapy is placed directly into the spinal column, an organ (such as the eye), or a body cavity (such as the abdomen), the drugs mainly affect cancer cells in those areas (regional chemotherapy). The way the chemotherapy is given depends on the type and stage of the cancer being treated.

 

A form of chemotherapy called chemoreduction is used to treat retinoblastoma. Chemoreduction reduces the size of the tumor so that local treatments can be applied (such as radiation therapy, cryotherapy, photocoagulation, or thermotherapy).

 

Side Effects of Retinoblastoma Treatments

Because retinoblastoma treatments may damage healthy cells and tissues, side effects are common. Specific side effects depend on many factors, including the type and extent of the retinoblastoma. Side effects may not be the same for each person, and they may even change from one retinoblastoma treatment session to the next. Before retinoblastoma treatment starts, healthcare providers will explain possible side effects and suggest ways to manage them.

 

Some retinoblastoma treatments cause side effects that continue or appear years after retinoblastoma treatment has ended. These are called late effects. Late effects of retinoblastoma treatment may include:

 

Some late effects may be treated or controlled. It is important to talk with your child's doctors about the possible late effects caused by some retinoblastoma treatments.

 

Children with the inherited form of retinoblastoma have an increased risk of developing second cancers. Children who have been treated for retinoblastoma with radiation therapy or certain chemotherapy agents also have a risk of developing second cancers. Regular follow-up by healthcare professionals who are experts in finding and treating late effects is important.