Wilms Tumor / nephroblastoma / Eponym

[~ Zarava Flutterby ~]

**mods i hope this is in the right area**

A close family friends little girl has just been diagnosed with cancer - WILMS TUMOR, she turns 6 next week.

This is what i have found as a basic overview through Wikipedia:

Wilms' tumor or nephroblastoma is cancer of the kidneys that typically occurs in children, rarely in adults.[1] Its common name is an eponym, referring to Dr. Max Wilms, the German surgeon (1867–1918) who first described this kind of tumor.[2]

Approximately 500 cases are diagnosed in the U.S. annually. The majority (75%) occur in otherwise normal children; a minority (25%) is associated with other developmental abnormalities. It is highly responsive to treatment, with about 90% of patients surviving at least five years.

Has anyone else had or know of anyone who has a child with this, and any information that can help this family through the rough journey ahead.

I've been to see them today, they are taking it 1 day at a time, which i guess is all you can do, they are far from home and staying at RMH while their poor little girl is in RCH.

Any information would be wonderful.

TIA

[~ Zarava Flutterby ~]

anybody?

[skybie]

havent heard of ithun, just wanted to send u some hugs xxxx

[~Kim~]

We actually removed a lot of these when I worked at the kids hossy in Sydney. Well not a lot, but they weren't rare IYKWIM?...and I worked with kidneys a lot. They'll usually shrink it with radio or chemo first and then take her to surgery to take it out. Sometimes they do have to take the whole kidney but not often. They have a capsule that can usually be removed on it's own from memory. It's pretty major surgery for a sick kid and she would have a drain for a bit afterwards....can't really remember much else though.

She's in the right spot though.

[~ Zarava Flutterby ~]

Thanks ~ Kim ~ the poor little thing starts chemo today, apparently it's quite large and WAY too big to remove and they have been told she could be in hospital for months.
At the moment they have been told she will def loose i think the left part of the kidney and she will be having a drain put in.

I just don't know what to say to them, i mean does she get through this and live a happy healthy life for another 60+yrs or does she get through it and live another 5??

It's so sad, i don't know how some people have the strength to work with these poor children and families... you must have the most amazing strength...

[Esme]

As far as I know the five years they mention is for as long as they monitor the outcomes. After that they don't check anymore. So, that would mean that for this particular cancer 90% of the patients are still alive after 5 years and more than likely go on to live long happy lifes, but they just don't follow up after the 5 years and can't give you the figures. HTH :hugs:

[appletree]

How devastating for your friends ZF! Sending big hugs to you and your friends

[~Kim~]

Esme's right ZF that's how long they are monitored for. The remission rate for these is fantastic.

[diva det]

a friend of mine's child had this Wilms tumor
she went through all her treatment and came out the other side- she is just awesome
i think she was around 6 years old when she was dx and is now around 13 years old
apparently it is a common cancer for this age group but outcomes are pretty hopeful

take care and will be thinking of your friend