1. Childhood Cancer Treatments Are Effective
New and better childhood cancer treatments mean that more children today than in years past are cured of cancer, which is still a rare disease in children. In some cases, childhood cancer treatments cause the disease to go into long-term remission, or decline. With an increase in the childhood cancer treatments now available, more children than ever before are surviving these diseases.
2. Different Treatments Indicated for Different Cancers
The type of treatment that is recommended for childhood cancer depends upon which type of cancer is being treated, how advanced the cancer is and the child's age and general level of health. These therapies include surgery to remove the cancer; chemotherapy, which kills cancer cells with drugs; and radiation therapy, which kills cancer cells with large amounts of X-rays. In some cases of leukemia, which is cancer of the white blood cells, a bone marrow transplant may be necessary to replace damaged cells with healthy ones.
3. A Combination of Therapies May be Necessary
When treating childhood cancer, more than one therapy may be required to remove the cancerous cells. A pediatric oncologist is a doctor who specializes in childhood cancer treatments and will determine which therapies together will most effectively treat your child's cancer.
4. Specialists Work Together to Treat Childhood Cancer
The pediatric oncologist is the specialist responsible for coordinating childhood cancer treatments. To give your child the most effective treatments available, the pediatric oncologist works with a team of medical specialists, which may include a radiation oncologist, who is trained in the use of radiation to treat cancer; a pediatric neurosurgeon, who specializes in brain and spinal-cord surgery; an orthopedic oncologist, who is trained to treat bone cancer; or a hematologic oncologist, who is an expert in treating cancers of the blood. If your pediatric oncologist feels that it is necessary, she may refer your child to other experts in childhood cancer treatments, as well. To help your child cope with the emotional issues associated with having cancer, a psychologist or a specialist called a child-life worker may be part of the team, which may also include a nutritionist to help you plan healthy meals to give your child before, during and after cancer treatments.
5. Side Effects May Occur
Childhood cancer treatments involve strong drugs, so it is not surprising that they may be associated with side effects, which can be treated. Some side effects that may occur include nausea, vomiting, constipation or diarrhea, hair loss, weight loss or gain, pain, decreased blood cell counts, fatigue and fever. If your child develops a fever while undergoing childhood cancer treatments, it is important to immediately call your doctor to rule out serious infection. Side effects may occur right after childhood cancer treatments, or they may be delayed by several days, weeks or sometimes years.
