This information represents the views of the doctors and nurses serving on the American Cancer Society's Cancer Information Database Editorial Board. These views are based on their interpretation of studies published in medical journals, as well as their own professional experience.

The treatment information in this document is not official policy of the Society and is not intended as medical advice to replace the expertise and judgment of your cancer care team. It is intended to help you and your family make informed decisions, together with your doctor.

Your doctor may have reasons for suggesting a treatment plan different from these general treatment options. Don't hesitate to ask him or her questions about your treatment options.

Because retinoblastoma is rare, few doctors other than those in specialty eye hospitals and major children's cancer centers have much experience in treating it. Children with retinoblastoma and their families have special needs that can best be met by these children's cancer centers. These centers have teams of specialists who know about retinoblastoma and the unique needs of children with cancer. This gives the child the best chance for recovery and, if possible, keeping their sight.

Ask your child's doctor about finding a children's cancer center near you that has expertise in treating babies and children with this rare form of cancer. Ask about the services offered at your treatment center. Your child's doctor or nurse can tell you what is available to help with any problems you or your child might have.

A team approach is recommended that includes the child's pediatrician as well as ophthalmologic oncologists (doctors who specialize in diagnosis, surgery, and other treatments for eye cancers), pediatric oncologists (doctors who specialize in using medicines to treat children with cancer), and radiation oncologists (doctors who specialize in using radiation to treat cancer). The team will also include other doctors, nurses, therapists, and technologists who have essential roles in diagnosis and treatment and can help retinoblastoma patients resume their normal activities after treatment is finished.

There is a lot for you to think about when choosing the best way to treat or manage your child's retinoblastoma. Often you may have more than one treatment to choose from. You may feel that you need to make a decision quickly. But give yourself time to absorb the information you have learned. Talk to the cancer care team. To get some ideas, look at the list of questions in the section "What should you ask your child's doctor about retinoblastoma?" Then add your own. You may want to get a second opinion. Your child's doctor should not mind if you do this. Check with your insurance provider about their policy on second opinions.

General treatment principles

The goals of treatment for retinoblastoma are:

• to eradicate the cancer and save the child's life
• to preserve as much vision as possible
• to save the eye
• to avoid second cancers, which may also be caused by treatment, particularly in children with inherited retinoblastoma

The most important factors that will determine treatment are:

• whether the tumor is just in one eye or both
• how good the vision is
• whether the tumor has extended beyond the eyeball

Overall, more than 90% of children can be cured of retinoblastoma. The chances of long-term survival are much better if the tumor has not spread beyond the eyeball.

Depending on the stage of the tumor, one or more of the following forms of treatment may be used:

• surgery
• radiation therapy (brachytherapy or external beam radiation therapy)
• photocoagulation (using lasers to kill small tumors)
• cryotherapy (using small, very cold probes to freeze and kill small tumors)
• thermotherapy (using heat to kill small tumors)
• chemotherapy

The rest of this section describes the types of treatment used for retinoblastoma and discusses which treatments may be used in different situations.

Last Medical Review: 10/26/2009
Last Revised: 10/26/2009