Proper Nutrition During Retinoblastoma Treatment
It is important to eat well during and after
retinoblastoma treatment. Your child needs the right amounts of calories, protein, vitamins, and minerals. Eating well may help him or her feel better and have more energy.
Eating well can be hard for people with retinoblastoma. Sometimes, especially during or soon after retinoblastoma treatment, a child may not feel like eating. He or she may be uncomfortable or tired. The child may find that foods do not taste as good as they used to. He or she also may have side effects from the treatment, such as poor appetite, nausea, vomiting, or
diarrhea.
A registered dietitian can suggest ways to deal with these problems.
Clinical Trials of New Retinoblastoma Treatments
Before starting retinoblastoma treatment, patients may want to think about taking part in a retinoblastoma clinical trial. A clinical trial is a
retinoblastoma research study meant to help improve current treatments or obtain information on new treatments for patients with retinoblastoma. When clinical trials show that a new retinoblastoma treatment is better than the standard treatment, the new treatment may become the standard treatment.
Retinoblastoma Treatments: Follow-up Care
Follow-up care after treatment for retinoblastoma is important. Even when there are no longer any signs of cancer, the disease sometimes returns, because undetected cancer cells can remain somewhere in the body after retinoblastoma treatment. After the treatment for retinoblastoma is finished, it is important that follow-up exams continue until the child is seven years of age.
During follow-up visits after retinoblastoma treatment, the doctor will monitor your child's recovery and check for recurrence of the cancer. Checkups help ensure that any changes in your child's health are noted and treated. Between scheduled visits, you should contact your doctor if your child has any health problems.
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