There are many different treatments for retinoblastoma. The type of treatments used for your child will be based off the testing done on your child’s tumor. Below are some of the treatment options.

Chemotherapy

This treatment uses chemo to stop cancer cells from growing. This could be by destroying the cells or helping to stop them from dividing. The way and type of chemo that is given depends on where the cancer is and the stage.

• Systemic IV chemotherapy is when chemo is infused into your child’s port or central line. It goes throughout the whole body to destroy cancer cells.

• Intra-vitreal chemotherapy is when chemo is injected into the vitreous of the eye to destroy cancer cells. The vitreous does not have any blood vessels. This chemo goes right to the tumor. This helps protect the rest of the body from the chemo.

• Intra-arterial chemotherapy is when chemo is injected into the ophthalmic artery to destroy cancer cells. This is the artery of the eye. This chemo goes right to the tumor. This helps protect the rest of the body from the chemo.

Cryotherapy

Is the use of extreme cold to freeze the cancer cells. A very cold metal probe is put on the surface of the eye, next to the tumor. This freezes the cancer cells and destroys them.

Laser Photocoagulation

Is the use of heat to destroy cancer cells. It uses a laser beam aimed through a dilated pupil. It is also called laser therapy.

Radiation Therapy

In this type of therapy, high-energy x rays or other types of radiation are used to destroy cancer cells. Radiation can also keep cancer cells from growing. Radiation therapy can be helpful because there are ways to use it to destroy cancer cells while also protecting healthy tissue.

• Brachytherapy uses radioactive seeds attached to a disk, called a plaque. This plaque is placed on the outside wall of the eye by the tumor. The seeds give radiation, which destroys the cancer. The plaque is removed after 3 to 5 days.

Surgery or Enucleation

When an eye is removed surgically it is called enucleation. An eye may be removed if the eye tumor is too large or has spread. Other reasons for eye removal may include if there is a serious eye injury or if there is pain in a blind eye. After the eye is removed, your child will be fitted for an implant or artificial eye.

Treatment Side Effects

Retinoblastoma treatment may cause side effects. Your provider and team will help manage side effects depending on the treatment your child receives. Medicines may be prescribed.