EpendymomaBy: Rachel Huertas

How it relates to me

A few years ago my youngest brother was diagnosed with ependymoma. At just the young age of 1 ½. He is the youngest patient ever to be diagnosed with this particular cancer. Lucky for us and thanks to the wonderful doctors at St. Jude’s Hospital for Children my brother was treated and is now in remission.

What is Ependymoma?

Ependymoma is a tumor that arises from the ependyma, a tissue of the central nervous system.

Treatment

Like other cancers ependymoma can be treated in different ways. Radiation therapy and chemo therapy are two ways. My brother was treated with 6 weeks of radiation therapy.

Effects

Having any type of cancer has many negative effects. Some effects of having ependymoma are scars from surgeries, balancing issues (because ependymoma effects the part of the brain that controls balance), speech and mental development issues (again because of the sensitivity of the area). My brother has scars and had balancing and speech issues.

What are the odds?

Ependymoma effects less than 200,000 people in the U.S. a year.

Ependymoma is usually found between the ages of 3-6.

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In Honor of LuisDavid Figueroa