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Treatments and Procedures
What, in general, does treatment for childhood cancer entail? How do the different treatments work? What are the side effects? How do other parents deal with the side effects? What procedures will your child have to undergo? What about pain control? What are clinical trials and how do you find them? Our answers to these and other questions are below.
Treatment options for specific cancers are given on the descriptive page for each cancer: see the disease index page (this site).
Clinical Trials
How to find clinical trials, what they are, help in deciding whether or not you should enter a clinical trial. A short section on when/how to get a second opinion with a link to the Ombudsman program.
The Problems With Teen Cancer Care
Only one-third of teen cancer patients receive their care at pediatric oncology centers, and fewer teens are enrolled in clinical trials. This is sometimes referred to as the teen gap in cancer care. This topic is covered on the page below.
Fertility Issues
The following websites and articles address both male and female fertility issues, including steps that can be taken before/during treatment to preserve fertility.
- Fertile Hope is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping cancer patients faced with infertility.
- Fertile Hope, Lance Armstrong Foundation, and Cryogenic Laboratories, Inc., offer the Live:On kit for sperm preservation for cancer patients.
- CA Online: Preserving Fertility After Cancer. Beth Simon, MD, Stephanie Joi Lee, MD, Ann Hart Partridge, MD and Carolyn D. Runowicz, MD, CA Cancer J Clin 2005; 55:211-228. (Sept 2005 paper of the month on Cure4Kids.).
- 'Fertility Preservation for Young Patients with Cancer: who is at risk and what can be offered?' written by Dr. Hamish and colleagues and published in Lancet Oncology, 6:262, 2005.
Medical procedures, chemotherapy, and radiation
Information on medical procedures (spinals, bone marrow aspirations/biopsies); chemo administration methods (IVs, pills, shots, etc.); chemotherapy drugs; radiation; routine antibiotics; special concerns during treatment.
Blood counts explained
A little bit about the basics of blood counts (e.g., ANC, WBC) and links to some very good sites that explain blood count values and blood cells.
Ports
Information on central lines and other methods for administration of IV drugs.
Dealing with side effects of treatment
Controlling pain and nausea, mouth sores and mouth care during treatment, sore bottoms, hair loss, hearing loss, education, household pets.food: neutropenic diets and nutrition,steroid feeding;
Diagnostic scans
CT scans, MRIs, etc.
Complementary and alternative treatments
Information on what types of CAM might be helpful in the treatment of pediatric cancers.
Bone marrow/stem cell transplants
Some children diagnosed with cancer undergo a "bone marrow" or a "stem cell" transplant, often referred to in the shorthand "BMT".
Late effects of treatment issues
A separate section on this web site.
Understanding What You Read
Try out the glossaries linked to in the navigation links on the upper left of every ped-onc page.
General Disclaimer
These pages are intended for informational purposes only and are not intended to render medical advice. The information provided on Ped Onc Resource Center should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or a disease. It is not a substitute for professional care. If you suspect your child has a health problem, you should consult your health care provider.
contact webmaster/ped-onc home/last updated 7/05