What Is Cancer?

When Your Child Is Diagnosed

Talking With Your Child's Doctor How Can My Child Get the Best Treatment?

Talking with Your Child

Parent's Questions Questions Children May Ask

What About Treatment?

Surgery Chemotherapy Radiation Therapy Immunotherapy Bone Marrow and Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplants Complementary and Alternative Medicine Hospitalization

Common Medical Procedures

Commmon Medical Procedures and Tests

Common Health Issues

Pain Diet Infections Immunizations Bleeding Transfusions Dental/Mouth Care

When to Call the Doctor

Call the Doctor If...

Moving on With Life

Life Goes On Financial and Insurance Issues

What Does the Future Hold?

Ongoing Health Care Insurance Issues

When the Cancer Cannot Be Cured

Home Care Hospice Care Day-to-Day Concerns

Resources

Types of Childhood Cancer

Leukemias Lymphomas Bone Cancers Liver Cancers Soft Tissue Sarcomas Other Cancers

Childhood Cancer

Young People with Cancer gives you information on all stages of your child's illness. It tells you what to expect and suggests ways to prepare for different situations. It can guide you to become your child's best advocate or supporter. You know your child better than anyone else - your child's personality, how your child copes with unknown situations and fear, what makes your child laugh or cry. You know what works best - how to humor and talk to your child and how to help your child relax. Try to remember that you are a key part of your child's treatment.

This booklet was reviewed by health professionals and, most important, by parents of children with cancer. Although this booklet does not tell you everything about cancer in children, it is a start, and it directs you to other sources of information. You may want to share this booklet with friends and relatives who want to learn more about what you and your child are going through. Use this booklet to learn:

• what cancer is and what the different kinds of cancer are
• how to find the best treatment
• about cancer treatment and side effects
• about common medical procedures
• how to talk to your child about cancer
• how to handle your own feelings, your child's feelings, and the feelings of others
• about common health issues
• what the future holds and
• where to get more information.

Because this booklet contains so much information, it may be useful to refer to the different sections as you need them. You can use the Table of Contents to find the sections of most interest to you. Words that you may not be familiar with are underlined the first time they appear. You can click on these words to see their definitions. The definitions are taken from the National Cancer Institute's Cancer.gov dictionary ¹.

More children than ever are surviving childhood cancer. Over the last 30 years, survival into adulthood increased from 30 percent to 80 percent. There are new and better drugs and methods to help children deal with the side effects of treatment. And children who have had cancer now have a better quality of life throughout childhood and into adulthood; fewer long-term ill effects follow the treatment.

Yet, in spite of all this good news, cancer is still a serious disease. You are not alone in facing your fears; help is available. A treatment team - doctors, radiation therapists, rehabilitation specialists, dietitians, oncology nurses, and social workers, among others - can help you and your child deal with the disease. They will also help ensure that your child gets the best treatment available with as few ill effects as possible. Resources such as this booklet provide information on childhood cancers and their treatment, suggestions on how to make your child as comfortable and as pain-free as possible, and advice on how to make time for family and friends.

What Is Cancer?

Cancer is a group of many related diseases that begin in cells, the body's basic unit of life. To understand cancer, it is helpful to know what happens when normal cells become cancerous.

The body is made up of many types of cells. Normally, cells grow and divide to produce more cells only when the body needs them. This orderly process helps keep the body healthy. Sometimes, however, cells keep dividing when new cells are not needed. These extra cells form a mass of tissue called a growth or tumor.

Tumors can be benign or malignant.

• Benign tumors are not cancer. They can often be removed and, in most cases, they do not come back. Cells from benign tumors do not spread to other parts of the body. Most important, benign tumors are rarely a threat to life.
• Malignant tumors are cancer. Cells in these tumors are abnormal and divide without control or order. They can invade and damage nearby tissues and organs. Also, cancer cells can break away from a malignant tumor and enter the bloodstream or the lymphatic system. That is how cancer spreads from the original cancer site to form new tumors in other organs. Cancer that has spread is called metastatic cancer.

Most cancers are named for the organ or type of cell in which they begin. When cancer spreads (metastasizes), cancer cells are often found in nearby or regional lymph nodes (sometimes called lymph glands). If the cancer has reached these nodes, it means that cancer cells may have spread to other organs, such as the liver, bones, or brain. When cancer spreads from its original location to another part of the body, the new tumor has the same kind of abnormal cells and the same name as the primary tumor. For example, if lung cancer spreads to the brain, the cancer cells in the brain are actually lung cancer cells. The disease is called metastatic lung cancer (not brain cancer).

Children can get cancer in the same parts of the body as adults do, but some types of cancer are more common in children. The most common form of childhood cancer is leukemia. Leukemia is cancer of the blood. It develops in the bone marrow, which is a spongy substance that fills the inside of the bones and makes blood cells. Other cancers often found in children are brain tumors, childhood lymphomas, Hodgkin's disease, Wilms' tumors, neuroblastomas, osteogenic sarcomas, Ewing's sarcomas, retino-blastomas, rhabdomyosarcomas and hepatoblastomas. The Appendix contains information on the major types of childhood cancer.

Children's cancers do not always act like, get treated like, or respond like adult cancers. Avoid reading about adult cancer to learn about your child's prognosis. Childhood cancers can occur suddenly, without early symptoms, and have a high rate of cure. You can find more details about these types of cancer in other National Cancer Institute (NCI) booklets. NCI's What You Need to Know About... brochures have information about specific types of cancer. (See page 96 for more information on available booklets.) To receive copies from the NCI-supported Cancer Information Service (CIS), call 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237) or TTY at 1-800-332-8615. Also, many NCI publications may be viewed or ordered on the Internet at http://cancer.gov/publications.

After your child's cancer has been diagnosed, a series of tests will be done to help identify your child's specific type of cancer. Called staging, this series of tests is sometimes done during diagnosis. Staging determines how much cancer is in the body and where it is located. To stage solid tumors, the doctor looks at the size of the tumor, the lymph nodes affected, and where it has spread. To stage leukemia, the doctor checks the bone marrow, liver, spleen, and lymph nodes around the sites where the leukemia can hide. Staging must be done to determine the best treatment. Many different tests can be used in staging, such as x-rays, MRIs, CT (or CAT) scans, and others. See Common Medical Procedures ² for a description of the various tests.

As soon as your child is suspected to have or is diagnosed with cancer, you will face decisions about who will treat your child, whom to ask for a second opinion (if desired or if the diagnosis is not clear), and what the best treatment is. After your child's staging is complete, the treatment team develops a plan that outlines the exact type of treatment, how often your child will receive treatment, and how long it will last.

Talking With Your Child's Doctor

Your child's doctor and the treatment team will give you a lot of details about the type of cancer and possible treatments. Ask your doctor to explain the treatment choices to you. It is important for you to become a partner with your treatment team in fighting your child's cancer. One way for you to be actively involved is by asking questions. You may find it hard to concentrate on what the doctor says, remember everything you want to ask, or remember the answers to your questions. Here are some tips for talking with those who treat your child:

• Write your questions in a notebook and take it to the appointment with you. Record the answers to your questions and other important information.
• Tape record your conversations with your child's health care providers.
• Ask a friend or relative to come with you to the appointment. The friend or relative can help you ask questions and remember the answers.

Questions to Ask the Doctor and Treatment Team When your child's treatment team gives you information about your child's cancer, you may not remember everything. That is natural. It is a lot of information, and your emotions will get in the way as you try to take it all in. Use the three techniques listed above - write, tape record, and ask a friend for help - to help you retain the information you need to be an effective partner with your child's treatment team. Make sure you know the answers to these questions: About the diagnosis What kind of cancer does my child have? What is the stage, or extent, of the disease? Will any more tests be needed? Will they be painful? How often will they be done? About treatment choices What are the treatment choices? Which do you recommend for my child? Why? Would a clinical trial be right for my child? Why? Have you treated other children with this type of cancer? How many? What are the chances that the treatment will work? Where is the best place for my child to receive treatment? Are there specialists - such as surgeons, radiologists, nurses, anesthesiologists, and others - trained in pediatrics? Can my child have some or all of the treatment in our home town? About the treatment How long will the treatment last? What will be the treatment schedule? Whom should we ask about the details of financial matters? Will the treatment disrupt my child's school schedule? About side effects What possible side effects of the treatment can occur, both right away and later? What can be done to help if side effects occur? About the treatment location How long will my child be in the hospital? Can any treatment be done at home? Will we need any special equipment? Does the hospital have a place where I can stay overnight during my child's treatment? About school and other activities Is there a child-life worker specialist (a professional who is responsible for making the hospital and treatment experience less scary for the child) to plan play therapy, schoolwork, and other activities? When can my child go back to school? Are there certain diseases my child cannot be around? Should I have my child and his or her siblings immunized against any diseases? Will my child need tutoring? Is information available to give to the school system about my child's needs as he or she receives treatment?

How Can My Child Get the Best Treatment?

Before your child starts treatment, make sure you feel comfortable with your choice of the doctor and hospital to treat your child's cancer.

Who Should Treat My Child?

It is best for your child to be treated by a health care provider who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of children's cancers - a pediatric oncologist.

Once you have chosen a doctor and discussed a diagnosis and treatment plan, but before treatment has started, you may want to get a second opinion - that is, you may want to ask a different doctor to review the diagnosis and plan. Some insurance companies require a second opinion; some may pay for it if you ask. A second opinion may also be obtained during the course of treatment if it is not working as hoped. Most doctors support a parent's decision to get a second opinion and many even suggest you do so. To find specialists to get a second opinion, you might -

• Ask your child's doctor to suggest a specialist for a second opinion.
• Get the names of doctors who specialize in treating childhood cancer from the local medical society, a nearby hospital, or a medical school. You can find the telephone numbers for these organizations in your telephone directory or the Yellow Pages.
• Contact an NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center for a second opinion and possible treatment. Considered "Centers of Excellence," these cancer centers' programs have been reviewed and selected by NCI. They offer the most up-todate diagnosis and treatment of cancer and are devoted to both basic and clinical research. To obtain information about the location of the different cancer centers, call the CIS at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237) or TTY at 1-800-332-8615.
• Contact the Pediatric Oncology Branch, NCI, located in Bethesda, Maryland, to ask for a second opinion appointment. They can be reached at 1-877-624-4878.

What Is a Standard Therapy Versus a Clinical Trial?

Your child's doctor may recommend a standard therapy or a clinical trial. Standard therapy is the best treatment available outside of clinical trials for a specific type and stage of cancer.

A cancer clinical trial is a research study. In a clinical trial, a new treatment is used with a group of patients to find out:

• if it is safe
• if it destroys the cancer
• if it has side effects and how severe they might be
• if it is better than standard therapy.

These new treatments are first tested in the laboratory and on animals. If a treatment shows promise of being better than the standard therapy, it is tested with patients in a clinical trial.

Most clinical trials are carried out in steps called phases. Each phase answers different questions about the treatment. Patients may be eligible for studies in different phases, depending on their general condition and the type and stage of their cancer.

• Phase I studies test new treatments in humans to determine if the treatment can be given safely and if it has harmful side effects. Researchers look for the best dose and the best way to deliver the treatment. Because less is known about the possible risks and benefits in Phase I, these studies usually include only a limited number of patients who would not be helped by other treatments.
• Phase II studies focus on learning whether the new treatment actually has an anticancer effect. As in Phase I, only a small number of people take part because of the risks and unknowns involved.
• Phase III studies compare the results of people receiving the new treatment with results of people receiving standard therapy. In most cases, studies move into Phase III testing only after a treatment shows promise in Phases I and II. Phase III studies may include hundreds of people around the country.
• Phase IV studies evaluate the side effects of the new treatment - once it has been approved and is being marketed - that were not apparent in the Phase III trial. Thousands of people are involved in a Phase IV trial.

Clinical trials have played an important role in producing new and better treatments. About two-thirds of children with cancer are treated in clinical trials

You and your child's doctor can learn about clinical trials from PDQ® - NCI's cancer information database. PDQ® contains:

• descriptions of current clinical trials, including information about the purpose of the study, who is eligible for the study, details of the treatment program, and the names and addresses of doctors and places conducting the study

You may ask your doctor to obtain information from PDQ®, or you may call the NCI-supported Cancer Information Service (CIS) at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237) or TTY at 1-800-332-8615 to ask for a PDQ® search ³. Read more about PDQ® ⁴ on the NCI Web site, Cancer.gov ⁵. To find out about NCI trials taking place on the main campus of the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, you may also call the NCI's Pediatric Oncology Branch at 1-877-624-4878.

Where Should My Child Be Treated?

Once the treatment is planned, you will need to decide where your child will be treated. Treating children is different from treating adults. Whenever possible, it is best for your child to begin treatment at a hospital or treatment center where many children have been treated for cancer. Selecting a hospital and staff specializing in treating childhood cancer will help your child receive the best available treatment right from the beginning. To obtain information about hospitals and treatment centers that specialize in treating childhood cancer, call the CIS at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237) or TTY at 1-800-332-8615.

Talking with Your Child

Your first question may be, "Should I tell my child about the cancer?" You may want to protect your child, but children usually know when something is wrong. Your child may not be feeling well, may be seeing the doctor often, and may have already had some tests. Your child may notice that you are afraid. No matter how hard you try to keep information about the illness and treatment from your child, others - such as family, friends, and clinic or hospital staff - may inadvertently say things that let your child know about the cancer. In addition, it will upset your child to find out that you were not telling the truth; your child depends on you for honest answers.

Why Should I Tell My Child?

Telling your child about his or her cancer is a personal matter, and family, cultural, or religious beliefs will come into play. It is important to be open and honest with your child because children who are not told about their illness often imagine things that are not true. For example, a child may think he or she has cancer as punishment for doing something wrong. Health professionals generally agree that telling children the truth about their illness leads to less stress and guilt. Children who know the truth are also more likely to cooperate with treatment. Finally, talking about cancer often helps to bring the family closer together and makes dealing with the cancer a little easier for everyone.

Parent's Questions

Parents have many questions about talking with their children about the diagnosis. Perhaps you have asked some of these yourself.

When Should My Child Be Told?

Because you are probably the best judge of your child's personality and moods, you are the best person to decide when your child should be told. Keep in mind, though, that your child is likely to know early on that something is wrong, so you may want to tell your child soon after the diagnosis. In fact, most parents say it is easiest to tell them then. Waiting days or weeks may give your child time to imagine worse things than the truth and develop fears that may be hard to dispel later. Certainly, it would be easier for your child if he or she is told before treatment starts.

Who Should Tell My Child?

The answer to this question is personal. As a parent, you may feel that it is best for you to tell your child. Some parents, however, find it too painful to do so. Other family members or the treatment team - doctor, nurse, or social worker - may be able to help you. They may either tell your child for you or help you explain the illness.

Thinking about what you are going to say and how to say it will help you feel more relaxed. But how do you decide just what to say? Family and close friends, members of the treatment team, parents of other children who have cancer, members of support groups (you can find information about them at the end of this booklet), and clergy members can offer ideas.

Who Should Be There?

Your child needs love and support when hearing the diagnosis. Even if the doctor explains the illness, someone your child trusts and depends upon should be present. Having the support of other family members at this time can be very helpful.

What Should My Child Be Told?

How much information and the best way to relate this information depends on your child's age and what your child can understand. Being gentle, open, and honest is usually best.

The following sections describe what most children in various age groups are likely to understand. These guidelines are general; each child is different. Your child may fit into more than one or none of these categories.

• Up to 2 Years Old

  Children this young do not understand cancer. They understand what they can see and touch. Their biggest concern is what is happening to them right now. They worry most about being away from their parents.

  After children are a year old, they think about how things feel and how to control things around them. Very young children are most afraid of medical tests. Many cry, run away, or squirm to try to control what is happening.

  Because children begin to think about and understand what is going on around them at about 18 months, it is best to be honest. Be truthful about trips to the hospital and explain procedures that may hurt. You can tell your child that needle sticks will hurt a minute and that it is okay to cry. Being honest lets your child know that you understand and accept his or her feelings and helps your child trust you.

  When you can, give your child choices. For example, if a medicine is taken by mouth, you might ask if your child would like it mixed in apple juice, grape juice, or applesauce.

• 2 to 7 Years Old

  When children are between the ages of 2 and 7, they link events to one thing. For example, they usually tie illness to a specific event such as staying in bed or eating chicken soup. Children this age often think their illness is caused by a specific action. Therefore, getting better will "just happen" or will come if they follow a set of rules.

  These approaches might help when talking with a child in this age group:

  • Explain that treatment is needed so the hurting will go away or so the child can get better and play without getting so tired.
  • Explain that the illness or treatment is not punishment for something the child has done, said, or thought.
  • Be honest when you explain tests and treatments. Remind the child that all of these things are being done to get rid of the cancer and to help him or her get well.
  • Use simple ways to explain the illness. For example, try talking about the cancer as a contest between "good" cells and "bad" cells. Having treatment will help the good cells to be stronger so that they can beat the bad cells.

• 7 to 12 Years Old

  Children ages 7 to 12 are starting to understand links between things and events. For example, a child this age sees his or her illness as a set of symptoms, is less likely to believe that something he or she did caused the illness, understands that getting better comes from taking medicines and doing what the doctor says, and is able to cooperate with treatment.

  You can give more details when explaining cancer, but you should still use situations your child may be used to. You might say that the body is made of up different types of cells, and these cells have different jobs to do. Like people, these cells must work together to get the job done. You might describe the cancer cells as "troublemakers" that get in the way of the work of the good cells. Treatment helps to get rid of the troublemakers so that other cells can work well together.

• 12 Years and Older

  Children over 12 years old can often understand complicated relationships between events. They can think about things that have not happened to them. Teenagers tend to think of illness in terms of specific symptoms, such as tiredness, and in terms of limits or changes in their everyday activity. But because they also can understand the reason for their symptoms, you can explain cancer as a disease in which a few cells in the body go "haywire." These "haywire" cells grow more quickly than normal cells, invade other parts of the body, and get in the way of how the body usually works. The goal of treatment is to kill the "haywire" cells. The body can then work normally again, and the symptoms will go away.

Questions Your Child May Ask

Children are naturally curious about their disease and have many questions about cancer and cancer treatment. Your child will expect you to have answers to most questions. Children may begin to ask questions right after diagnosis or may wait until later. Here are some common questions and some ideas to help you answer them.

Why Me?

A child, like an adult, wonders "Why did I get cancer?" A child may feel that it is his or her fault, that somehow he or she caused the illness. Make it clear that not even the doctors know exactly what caused the cancer. Neither you, your child, nor his or her brothers or sisters did, said, or thought anything that caused the cancer. Stress also that cancer is not contagious, and your child did not "catch" it from someone else.

Will I Get Well?

Children often know about family members or friends who died of cancer. As a result, many children are afraid to ask if they will get well because they fear that the answer will be "no." Thus, you might tell your child that cancer is a serious disease, but that treatment - such as medicine, radiation, or an operation - has helped get rid of cancer in other children, and the doctors and nurses are trying their best to cure your child's cancer, too. Knowing that caring people - such as family, doctors, nurses, counselors, and others - surround your child and your family may also help him or her feel more secure.

What Will Happen to Me?

When your child is first diagnosed with cancer, many new and scary things will happen. While at the doctor's office, hospital, or clinic, your child may see or play with other children with cancer who may not be feeling well, have lost their hair, or have had limbs removed because of cancer. Your child may wonder, "Will these things happen to me?" Yet, your child may be too afraid to ask questions. It is important to try to get your child to talk about these concerns. Explain ahead of time about the cancer, treatment, and possible side effects. Discuss what the doctor will do to help if side effects occur. You can also explain that there are many different types of cancer and that even when two children have the same cancer, what happens to one child will not always happen to the other.

Children should be told about any changes in their treatment schedule or in the type of treatment they receive. This information helps them prepare for visits to the doctor or hospital. You may want to help your child keep a calendar that shows the days for doctor visits, treatments, or tests. Do not tell younger children about upcoming treatments far ahead of time if it makes them nervous.

Why Do I Have to Take Medicine When I Feel Okay?

With cancer, your child may feel fine much of the time but need to take medicine often. Children do not understand why they have to take medicine when they feel well. You may want to remind your child of the reason for taking the medicine in the first place. For example, a child could be told: "Although you are feeling well, the bad cells are hiding. You must take the medicine for a while longer to find the bad cells and stop them from coming back."

What About Treatment?

To plan the best treatment, the doctor and treatment team will look at your child's general health, type of cancer, stage of the disease, age, and many other factors. Based on this information, the doctor will prepare a treatment plan that outlines the exact type of treatment, how often your child will receive treatment, and how long it will last. Each child with cancer has a treatment plan that is chosen just for that child; even children with the same type of cancer may receive different treatments. Depending on how your child responds to treatment, the doctor may decide to change the treatment plan or choose another plan.

Before treatment begins, your child's doctor will discuss the treatment plan with you, including the benefits, risks, and side effects. Then you and the treatment team will need to talk with your child about the treatment. After the doctor fully explains the treatment and answers your questions, you will be asked to give your written consent to go ahead with treatment. Depending on your child's age and hospital policy, your child may also be asked to give consent before treatment.

The treatment plan may seem complicated at first. But the doctor and treatment team will explain each step, and you and your child will soon become used to the routine. Many parents find it helpful to get a copy of the treatment plan to refer to as the treatment proceeds. It also helps them in arranging their own schedules. Do not be afraid to ask questions or speak up if you feel something is not going right. Your child's doctor is often the best person to answer your questions, but other members of the treatment team can give you information, too. If you feel as though you need extra time with the doctor, schedule a meeting or phone call. Remember, you are part of the treatment team and should be involved in your child's treatment.

What Are the Different Types of Cancer Treatment?

The types of treatment used most often to treat cancer are surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, and bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cell transplantation . Doctors use these treatments to destroy cancer cells. Depending on the type of cancer, children may have one kind of treatment or a combination of treatments. Most children receive a combination of treatments, called combination therapy.

Treatments for cancer often cause unwanted or unpleasant side effects such as nausea, hair loss, and diarrhea. Side effects occur because cancer treatment that kills cancer cells can hurt some normal cells, too. As your child begins treatment, you may want to keep the following in mind.

• The kinds of side effects and how bad they will be depend on the kind of drug, the dosage, and the way your child's body reacts.
• The doctor plans treatment so that your child has as few side effects as possible.
• The doctor and treatment team have ways to lessen your child's side effects. Talk with them about things that can be done before, during, and after treatment to make your child comfortable.
• Lowering the treatment dosage slightly to eliminate unpleasant side effects usually will not make the treatment less able to destroy cancer cells or hurt your child's chances of recovery.
• Most side effects go away soon after treatment ends.

Remember that not every child gets every side effect, and some children get few, if any. Also, how serious the side effects are varies from child to child, even among children who are receiving the same treatment. The doctor or treatment team can tell you which, if any, side effects your child is likely to have and how to handle them. If you know what side effects can occur, you can recognize them early.

Surgery

Helping Your Child Face Fears About Surgery

Your child is likely to have many worries about surgery. Your child may ask:

• What is it like to be put to sleep?
• Will I feel a lot of pain?
• Will my body be changed?
• How will I feel about my body after the operation?
• Will my parents be with me when I wake up?

Here are some suggestions that might help your child face surgery:

• Give honest answers to your child's questions. Your child may lose trust in you if what you say does not match what really happens. Your child needs to trust you.
• Learn as much as you can about your child's operation. To give the correct answers to your child's questions, you will need to find out as much as possible about what will happen. The doctors and other members of the treatment team can give you the facts you need to prepare your child.
• Visit the operating and recovery rooms before the surgery. To help children get ready for surgery, many hospitals encourage them to visit the rooms where they will be during surgery and recovery. They can meet and talk with the people who will be there. For instance, young children may be shown a surgical mask and given one to try on or to put on a toy or another person.
• Talk with your child about feelings and concerns. Above all, try to get your child to talk about any feelings or concerns he or she has about the surgery.

Possible Side Effects of Surgery

Side effects from surgery depend on the location of the tumor, the type of operation, the child's general health, and other factors. Common side effects include pain, headaches, nausea, and constipation. These effects may be from the surgery, pain medicine, or lack of exercise. The doctor will give your child medicine, as needed, to help ease these side effects and other symptoms.

Children and Amputations

In the past, amputations were often necessary to remove bone tumors in the arms and legs. Depending on the type of tumor, however, doctors more and more can use procedures that spare the limb and make amputation unnecessary. Fewer children suffer the loss of a limb. Your child's treatment team will explain the options available to you.

For some children, however, amputation remains the best choice. These children have special concerns. They wonder what it will be like not to have an arm or leg. Will they be able to do everyday things? How will they do them? How will others act toward them? They may feel a lack of wholeness after surgery. Sometimes it is more difficult for parents than for children to adjust to an amputation. Generally, younger children adjust more quickly. Adolescents have special concerns. They may be more sensitive about the way they look to others. They also may worry about how the amputation will affect developing and keeping relationships, participating in sports activities, getting married, and having children.

It may be helpful for your child to see how others have adjusted to an amputation. Meeting other children who have had amputations and who are doing well can be very helpful. Your child will learn that he or she can have a full and active life - most children can participate in the same activities they did before having an amputation. They can still walk, run, ride a bicycle, ski, swim, and even mountain-climb. It may also help for the treatment team to show your child an artificial limb, or prosthesis, and other devices or aids that will help with movement.

After surgery, your child will be aware of a bulky dressing or bandage at the site of the surgery. Your child may feel "phantom pain," an eerie but common feeling. Sensations such as cold, itching, and pain are felt in the limb as if it were still part of the body. Doctors do not know what causes phantom pain. The best explanation is that the brain has been accustomed to receiving messages from the nerves in the limb that has been amputated. It takes time for the brain to get used to the nerve fibers that remain and the new messages from the stump. Sometimes a light massage and changing the position of the stump will offer some relief. The doctor will usually start medication ahead of time to ease your child's pain and can also order some medicine to treat the phantom pain when it happens.

As part of the rehabilitation, a physical therapist will help your child with exercises to strengthen the muscles needed to support a temporary prosthesis. These exercises are often hard and can be painful, so your child needs to be encouraged and supported during this time. Once the muscles become stronger, the doctor may order a temporary prosthesis for your child. The prosthesis is made by a prosthetist, a person skilled in making artificial limbs. The temporary prosthesis will be bulkier and heavier than the permanent one. The way it looks may be disappointing, but the added heaviness will further strengthen the stump and the bulkiness will protect it. Once the stump is fully healed, and your child is able to move the limb well with the temporary prosthesis, fitting for the permanent prosthesis will begin.

Health professionals will be available to help your child and family throughout the entire process - from making treatment choices to adjusting to the permanent prosthesis. Drawing upon the strength and comfort of family members and joining a support group may also help you cope.

Chemotherapy

Depending on the type of cancer your child has and which drugs are used, chemotherapy may be given in one or more of these ways:

• By mouth (oral medication) - The drugs are swallowed in liquid or pill form. If your child has trouble swallowing pills, you can break the pills into smaller pieces, or you may crush and mix them with applesauce, jam, pudding, or other food that your child likes.
• Intravenously (IV) - The drugs are injected by needle into a vein or into an IV line.
• Intramuscular injection (IM) - The drugs are injected by needle into the muscle. Your child will know it as a "shot."
• Subcutaneous injection (SC) - The drugs are injected by needle just below the skin. Your child will also know this as a "shot."
• Intrathecal injection (IT) - The drugs are injected by needle into the spinal fluid

Although your child may be able to receive chemotherapy treatments at home, he or she will probably need to go to the hospital or doctor's office to receive IV drugs or injections. Depending on the medicine, your child may need to stay in the hospital, perhaps overnight or longer.

Oral Chemotherapy

When possible, involve your child in this treatment. For example, you may want to keep a special calendar to help your child track when medicine should be taken. Older children, particularly adolescents, may want to be responsible for taking and keeping track of their medication. Even so, you still need to make sure that the medicine is being taken as ordered. Be sure to notify the doctor if your child misses any doses of medication or if he or she vomits them up.

Intravenous Chemotherapy

Your child will get the drug through a thin needle put into a vein, usually on the hand or in the arm. In babies and very small children, the needle may be placed in a vein in the scalp. Although getting chemotherapy usually does not hurt, it may be painful when the IV needle is put in, and the drugs may cause a burning feeling. If the drug leaks from the vein, it may burn the skin, so care must be taken to make sure the IV line is firmly in place. The nurse or doctor must act right away if the needle comes out of the vein.

Another way to give IV chemotherapy is through a catheter. The catheter remains in place during the course of treatment so that drugs can be given without having to place a needle into the vein over and over again. The most commonly used are central venous catheters. While the child is under general or local anesthesia, the catheter is usually put into a large vein in the chest by making a small incision (cut) near the collarbone. Two types of central venous catheters are commonly used.

• One type of catheter is an external venous catheter (for example, a Broviac or Hickman catheter). In this type of catheter, the plastic tube extends outside the body.
• The second type (for example, a Port-a-Cath catheter) is placed under the skin and needs to have a needle placed into it each time it is used. This type of catheter may be more appealing to adolescents or for families who cannot take care of a catheter that needs special daily care.

In addition to chemotherapy, pain medicine and blood transfusions can be given through the catheter, and blood can be drawn from the body through the catheter.

Side Effects of Chemotherapy

Side effects can occur when the anticancer drugs affect not only the cancer cells but healthy cells as well. Different drugs produce different side effects. Ask your doctor or nurse what side effects your child is most likely to have and when they are likely to occur. Side effects are either acute (they happen right away) or delayed (they happen days, weeks, or years after chemotherapy). The most common side effects of chemotherapy are listed in the following chart.

You may also find these NCI materials useful:

• Chemotherapy and You: A Guide to Self-Help During Treatment ⁶ discusses side effects from chemotherapy and ways to cope with them
• Eating Hints for Cancer Patients ⁷ provides suggestions for how to eat well during cancer treatment.

You can receive copies from the NCI-supported Cancer Information Service (CIS) by calling 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237) or TTY at 1-800-332-8615. Also, many NCI publications may be viewed or ordered online ⁸.

Side Effects of Chemotherapy:

DIGESTIVE TRACT PROBLEMS

MOUTH PROBLEMS

SKIN AND HAIR PROBLEMS

KIDNEY AND BLADDER PROBLEMS

NERVE PROBLEMS

BONE PROBLEMS

SYSTEMIC PROBLEMS (involving the entire body)

Long-term Side Effects of Chemotherapy

Ask your child's doctor and treatment team about health problems that may occur later as a result of the chemotherapy. A few chemotherapy drugs can cause lasting damage to the body's organs. For example, heart problems sometimes show up years after treatment, and children who have been treated with these drugs may need regular checkups by a cardiologist. Your child's later ability to have children may also be affected by chemotherapy. Finally, depending on the specific chemotherapy your child received, your child may be at risk of developing a second cancer.

Radiation Therapy

How Does Radiation Therapy Work?

All human body cells, including cancer cells, contain a substance called DNA. DNA tells the cells how to form and grow. In radiation therapy, the radiation harms the DNA inside the cancer cells, causing them to die before more cells are made. Tumors will shrink as the cancer cells die.

Getting Ready for Radiation Therapy

Before treatment begins, a doctor who specializes in radiation therapy will talk with you and your child about treatment. The doctor also will mark the exact area on your child where the radiation will be given. Marking ensures that the treatment is given in the same place each time. These marks, or small tattoos, are not painful to receive - the skin is only pricked - and they need to stay in place all during treatment. Although the skin may become tender during radiation, it is important to avoid using any soaps or lotions near the markings or the part of the body receiving the radiation without the approval of the radiation team. Lotions are often okay if removed hours before treatment.

Because you would be exposed to radiation, you will not be allowed to stay in the room with your child during the treatment. Your child will not be radioactive during or after radiation therapy, so no one need fear being close to your child.

What Will Happen During Radiation Therapy?

Radiation therapy does not cause pain. It is much like having a regular x-ray taken, except that your child needs to hold still longer. Because some young children are often unable to be still, the doctor may give a young child medicine to help him or her relax or to put him or her to sleep. The parts of your child's body that are not being treated will be covered by special shields made of lead to protect those body parts from the radiation.

Lessening Your Child's Fears

Some children may find the machines scary. Most radiation departments will give you and your child a tour of the area before the first treatment, so both of you can see what the machines look like. Younger children may be afraid of being left alone in the room. You can tell your child that you will be right outside. In some hospitals, you may be able to see your child receive treatment through closed-circuit television or viewing windows; your child may feel better just knowing that you are watching.

Side Effects of Radiation Therapy

The high doses of radiation that kill cancer cells can also hurt normal cells. When this happens, side effects occur. With radiation therapy, the side effects depend on the treatment dose and the part of the body being treated.

The following chart gives information on the most common side effects of radiation therapy.

Side Effects of Radiation Therapy:

ALL RADIATION SITES

HEAD AND NECK RADIATION SITES

STOMACH AND ABDOMEN RADIATION SITES

Side Effect What You Can Do Nausea and vomiting Ask your child's doctor about medicines to control nausea and vomiting and/or sedatives to help your child sleep through the nausea. Feed your child light foods 3-4 hours before treatment. Encourage your child to eat small amounts of food often and slowly. Avoid serving sweet, greasy, and spicy foods and foods with strong odors. Serve your child cold meals, such as sandwiches, instead of hot foods. Encourage your child to take liquids first, and then wait 30-60 minutes before eating solids. Most children tolerate liquids better than solids. Have your child rest after meals. If your child is vomiting, do not give anything to eat or drink until it is under control. Once the vomiting is under control, give small amounts of clear liquids (for example, water, broth, milk-free ices, and gelatin desserts). Begin with 1 teaspoon every 10 minutes; gradually increase the amount to 1 tablespoon every 20 minutes; and finally, try 2 tablespoonfuls every 30 minutes. When your child can keep down clear liquids, try denser liquids (for example, strained cereal, pudding, yogurt, milkshakes, cream soups). Give small amounts as often as your child can keep them down. Gradually work up to solid foods. Diarrhea Contact your doctor if your child's diarrhea is severe, that is, more than three loose stools per day. Avoid giving your child apple juice. Avoid giving your child fatty foods. Try foods high in proteins and calories but low in fiber, such as plain or vanilla yogurt, rice with broth, or noodles. Serve your child foods and liquids high in sodium and potassium. Foods high in potassium that do not cause diarrhea are bananas, peach and apricot juices, and boiled or mashed potatoes. Make sure your child drinks plenty of liquids.

Long-Term Side Effects of Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy also may affect your child in the future. For example, radiation to the brain may cause learning and coordination problems, especially in very young children. Thus, it may be helpful to consider neuropsychological testing following treatment. Radiation therapy may also affect your child's growth or may cause a second cancer to form in the treated area years after treatment. Therefore, the doctor may delay radiation therapy or, if possible, choose another treatment, such as chemotherapy. Your child's treatment team has no way to know exactly what, if any, long-term effects your child may have, but they can help you know what the possible effects might be.

Immunotherapy

The immune system - the body's system for defending itself - knows when substances that should not be there, such as bacteria and viruses, are in the body and then attacks them. The system also knows when cells have changed, such as when cells become cancerous, and then attacks them. Immunotherapy, also known as biological therapy, was developed to take advantage of the body's own ability to fight disease.

In immunotherapy, substances called biological response modifiers (BRMs) are given to cancer patients. BRMs are substances that are normally made by the body to fight cancer and other diseases. Scientists can make large amounts of BRMs to use in cancer treatment. These BRMs destroy cancer cells and change the way the body reacts to a tumor. They may also help the body replace noncancerous cells destroyed by chemotherapy.

Several types of BRMs are used to treat cancer. Four are discussed here: cytokines, interleukins, colony-stimulating factors, and monoclonal antibodies.

• Cytokines are proteins formed in small amounts by all human cells to help control the working of cells. Interferon, one type of cytokine, helps the immune system slow the rate of growth and division of cancer cells, causing them to become sluggish and die. In children who have cancer, these agents have been tested against leukemia, osteosarcoma, brain tumors, and neuroblastoma.
• Interleukins, another type of cytokine, are made by lymphocytes. Interleukin-2, one of the most studied interleukins, causes certain kinds of white blood cells to grow and destroy tumors.
• Colony-stimulating factors are proteins that cause bone marrow cells to develop platelets, red blood cells, and white blood cells.
• Monoclonal antibodies recognize specific antigens, substances that the body senses do not belong or regards as "outsiders," on the surface of cancer cells. These antibodies can be directed against a certain cell type. They can be used to attack and damage or destroy cancer cells. They may also be used to deliver anticancer drugs or radiation directly to specific cancer cells. This technique is still being developed and is used only in clinical trials.

Side Effects of Immunotherapy

Depending on the exact type of treatment, immunotherapy often causes flu-like symptoms such as chills, fever, muscle aches, weakness, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and, at times, a rash. Sometimes the patient will bleed or bruise easily. Depending on how serious these problems are, hospitalization may be needed during treatment. These side effects usually go away after treatment ends. Ask your child's doctor about coping with the side effects.

Bone Marrow and Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplants

Stem cells are immature cells that produce the three types of blood cells:

• white blood cells, which fight infection
• red blood cells, which carry oxygen to and remove waste products from organs and tissues
• platelets, which enable the blood to clot.

Healthy stem cells grow in two ways:

• They divide to form more stem cells.
• They mature into white cells, red cells, and platelets.

Two circumstances create the need for a transplant. The first is when the cancer itself has injured the bone marrow. BMT and PBSCT are commonly used in the treatment of leukemia and lymphoma. The second circumstance is when a treatment requires such large doses of chemotherapy or radiation therapy that the child's bone marrow is damaged during treatment. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy target all cells that divide rapidly. Cancer cells divide more rapidly than most healthy cells and so are destroyed by the therapies. Bone marrow cells, however, also divide more rapidly than other healthy cells, so high-dosage treatment can have a damaging effect on them as well.

A BMT or PBSCT can be done in three ways: as an autologous transplant, an allogeneic transplant, or a syngeneic transplant.

• Autologous transplant - The child's own stem cells or PBSCs cells are used. They can be obtained from the bone marrow or from blood, using the apheresis procedure. Stem cells are collected while the child is in remission. To make sure that any cancer cells that remain are destroyed, the marrow may be treated with anticancer drugs. After the marrow or PBSCs are collected, the child receives high-dose chemotherapy, usually over 2 to 6 days, and, frequently, total body irradiation, during which the whole body is radiated, in one dose or in many doses over several days, to get rid of the cancer. The collected marrow or PBSCs are then returned to the child through a vein, as in a blood transfusion.
• Allogeneic transplant - The marrow or PBSCs from a sibling, parent, or someone not related to the child are used for the transplant. The transplant material must be as closely matched to the patient's blood cells as possible. Cord blood transplant is allogeneic.
• Syngeneic transplant - The perfectly matched marrow or PBSCs from an identical twin are used for the transplant.

Before the transplant, a catheter is usually inserted into a large vein in the chest for transplanting the marrow or PBSCs, as well as for giving blood, antibiotics, and other drugs and for drawing blood. The child is given high doses of anticancer drugs and/or radiation. When the cancer cells - along with some healthy bone marrow cells - are destroyed, the new, healthy marrow or PBSCs can be given. The healthy marrow or PBSCs are given through the catheter and travel through the bloodstream to the bone marrow where they start to make red and white blood cells and platelets.

It usually takes 14 to 30 days after the transplant for the transplanted stem cells to make enough white blood cells to fight infection and to make other blood cells. During this time, your child will be at higher risk for infections, anemia, and bleeding. Complete recovery of your child's immune system can take 1 to 2 years after an autologous, allogeneic, or syngeneic transplant. Your child may need to remain in a hospital room that is kept as free as possible from anything that may cause an infection. Supportive care, which includes receiving blood transfusions and antibiotics, will be given.

Supportive Care

Children having a BMT or PBSCT usually stay in the hospital for 1 to 2 months (sometimes longer), although outpatient BMT can be done for children who have brain tumors. Children receiving BMT or PBSCT may need supportive care.

For more information on side effects from chemotherapy and radiation therapy, see the charts in those sections.

Graft-Versus-Host Disease

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) may occur in patients who receive bone marrow or peripheral stem cells from a donor. In GVHD, donated stem cells realize they are in a different body, so they may attack the patient's tissues, such as the liver, skin, or digestive tract. GVHD can be mild or very severe and can occur any time after the transplant - even years later. The doctor may give drugs to reduce the risk of GVHD and to treat the problem if it occurs.

Supportive Care for BMT and PBSCT

Problem Supportive Care Provided Low counts of all types of blood cells Isolation from people with infectious diseases Transfusion with blood products, including platelets and red blood cells Treatment with proteins that increase the number of white blood cells Infections Intravenous antibiotics Isolation from other people Gastrointestinal Infections Low-bacteria diet Mouth care Liquid antibiotics Difficulty eating enough food Intravenous nutrition-giving nutrients through a vein

Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) includes a broad range of healing philosophies, approaches, and therapies. A therapy is generally called complementary when it is used in addition to conventional treatments; it is often called alternative when it is used instead of conventional treatment. (Conventional treatments are those that are widely accepted and practiced by the mainstream medical community.)

It is important that the same scientific evaluation used to assess conventional treatments be used to evaluate complementary and alternative therapies. Conventional cancer treatments have generally been studied for safety and effectiveness through clinical trials, which are research studies with people. Some complementary and alternative therapies have not been studied in clinical trials.

Others, which once were not accepted by the mainstream medical community, are gaining acceptance in cancer therapy - not as cures, but as complementary therapies that may help patients feel better and recover faster. One example is acupuncture. Other therapies, such as laetrile, have been studied and found to be ineffective and potentially harmful.

If you have questions about complementary or alternative therapies, discuss them with your child's doctor or treatment team.

Hospitalization

Being in the hospital is often scary for any child, especially at first. It is a whole new world to learn about - new people and strange machines, procedures, and routines. Adding a touch of home by having pictures of family members and friends, drawings, and other personal things in your child's room can help make the hospital a less scary place. These homey touches can help start a conversation between the hospital staff and your child.

One of the scariest things for many children is being separated from their parents and siblings. Many hospitals and treatment centers help your family and your child spend as much time together as possible by allowing you to visit anytime and having beds for parents in the child's room or bedrooms nearby. If the hospital does not have beds for you, you might ask to sleep in a chair near your child's bed.

Most hospitals have playrooms for children who are patients. Playrooms often have toys, games, arts and crafts supplies, and tape players, giving children a chance to play and talk with each other in much the same way that they do with their friends at home or in school. The playroom setting allows children to relax and become more comfortable in the hospital. Playroom staff, trained in working with children who have serious illnesses, can talk to parents and other members of the treatment team about the fears or concerns a child may share through play.

If your child cannot get out of bed to go to the playroom, child-life workers - trained staff who help coordinate play, schoolwork, and other activities for the child - may make bedside visits.

For older children who are trying to separate themselves from you and be more on their own, being in the hospital may thwart their drive for independence. At a time when young people are normally doing more on their own, cancer makes them rely on you more. As a result, adolescents may make it known, loudly and often, that they are unhappy. They may refuse treatment, break hospital rules, miss outpatient appointments, and rebel in other ways.

Children of any age will often cooperate more if given treatment choices that do not cause problems with their care. Parents can help children become more independent by allowing them to share the responsibility for their care. Some hospitals also make a special effort to help children cope with illness and being in the hospital, such as allowing teenagers to dress in street clothes whenever possible and to have friends visit. Some hospitals have equipment that allows the child to interact with his or her classmates in their classroom.

Common Medical Procedures

Medical tests and procedures are not only used to diagnose cancer, but also to see how well the treatment is working and to make sure that the treatment is causing as little damage to normal cells as possible. Many of these tests will be repeated from time to time throughout treatment.

Parents and children say that knowing about the tests before they are done helps them to cope. You may want to ask your doctor these questions before any testing is done:

• Which tests will my child have? What will my child need to have this test? An IV? An oral contrast?
• Where and how is each test done?
• Will the tests be painful? If so, what can be done to make my child more relaxed and in less pain?
• Who will do the tests? Has the staff doing the testing worked with children?
• What information does the doctor expect to get from the tests?
• How soon will the results be known? What do the results mean?
• Will the tests be covered by insurance?

Some of these tests are painful; most are not. For some tests, your child may need to remain still for as long as an hour. Ask your doctor what you and the treatment team can do to help your child become more comfortable during the tests. For procedures that require your child to remain very still, medicines can be given to help your child relax or become sleepy. For tests that can be painful, such as the bone marrow aspiration test and spinal tap, pain medicines are often given. Sometimes a general anesthetic, a drug that causes your child to lose consciousness and all feeling, is given.

Relaxation therapy (methods used to make one feel more relaxed and to feel less pain), guided imagery (using the imagination to create mental pictures), hypnosis (a trance-like state that can be brought on by a person trained in a special technique), music, and other techniques can also help to ease your child's discomfort and fear. When your child is relaxed, the procedures are less painful. Ask your treatment team to help you guide your child through relaxation exercises both before and during the procedures. Often a combination of pain medicine and relaxation techniques is used.

Your child will want to be with you during the procedures, and in most situations, that is possible. See Common Health Issues ⁹. The following chart provides information about some common medical procedures your child may have.

Commmon Medical Procedures and Tests

Biopsy

Procedure/Test Purpose What is Done General A biopsy determines if a tumor is not cancerous (benign) or cancerous (malignant). If the biopsy is "positive," cancer is present. If it is "negative," cancer cells were not seen. A doctor removes part or all of the tumor or part of the bone marrow. A pathologist, a doctor who specializes in recognizing changes caused by disease in humans, looks at the tissue under a microscope. Bone marrow aspiration or bone marrow biopsy This type of biopsy examines the bone marrow under a microscope to see if leukemia is present or if the treatment is working. For other cancers, this test tells whether the disease has spread to the bone marrow. For young people, a bone marrow test is most often done in the hip bone. The child lies on his or her stomach with a pillow under the hips. A needle is put through the skin and into the middle of the hipbone, and a small sample of marrow is quickly drawn into the syringe. The most painful part of the test lasts for a few seconds.

Blood Studies

Procedure/Test Purpose What is Done Tumor markers This type of test searches for substances that may increase in the blood of a person with cancer. It can help to diagnose cancer and to find out how well the child is responding to treatment. A sample of blood is usually obtained through a needle inserted in a vein or by pricking the tip of the finger and sqeezing out a few drops of blood. Sometimes blood is obtained via tubes (catheters) that have been surgically placed through the chest and into one of the major blood vessels leading to the heart. Complete Blood Count (CBC) A CBC test checks the white blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and platelet count in a sample blood. See above. White blood cell (WBC) count A WBC count measures the number of WBCs in the blood and is also used to find certain types of immature cells - called blast cells - typical of leukemia. WBCs protect the body from infection. Chemotherapy and other treatments can lower the number of WBCs, increasing the risk of infection. If the test reveals a low WBC count, treatment may need to be delayed until the count goes up. See above. Hemoglobin Hemoglobin is the substance in red blood cells that carries oxygen to the body's tissues. Low hemoglobin indicates anemia. Anemia can cause your child to look pale and feel weak and tired. It may be a side effect of chemotherapy or a sign that the cancer has returned. See above. Hematocrit Hematocrit determines the size, function, and number of red blood cells. A low hematocrit also may mean that anemia is present. See above. Neutrophils (also called ANC-absolute neutrophil count) This blood study tests for the body's ability to fight bacterial infections. See above. Platelet count This test measures the number of platelets. Platelets help the blood clot. A low platelet count, which may be due to side effects of medicine or to infection, or may mean that leukemia is present, could cause one to bleed or bruise easily. See above.

Lumbar Puncture

Procedure/Test Purpose What is Done Lumbar puncture or spinal tap This test obtains a sample of spinal fluid - the liquid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. The doctor looks at the fluid under the microscope to see if any infection or cancer cells are present. It is also used to give anticancer drugs directly to the brain and spinal cord. The child, in a curled position, lies on one side or sits. A needle is inserted between the small bones of the spine into the fluid space around the spinal cord. A sample of the spinal fluid is taken. This test can be somewhat painful.

Imaging Tests

Procedure/Test Purpose What is Done General Imaging tests take pictures of images of areas inside the body to see what is happening. Tests are generally not painful, but the equipment may be frightening to children. Some machines, such as MRIs, make very loud noises. Angiograms An angiogram obtains an x-ray of the blood vessels and shows changes in the blood vessels and in nearby organs. Clogged blood vessels or blood vessels that have moved may mean that a tumor is present. A special dye is injected into an artery and travels through the blood vessles. Then a series of x-rays is taken. The dye makes the blood vessels show up on an x-ray. Ultrasound Ultrasound obtains a picture of part of the body by using sound waves. The waves echo or bounce off tissues and organs, making pictures called sonograms. Tumors have different echoes than normal tissues, making it possible to "see" abnormal growths. A small hand-held device called a transducer is used to send the sound waves to a site in the body. The transducer is rubbed firmly back and forth over the site after the skin has been lubricated with a special gel. Radioisotope scanning This test studies the liver, brain, bones, kidneys, and other organs of the body. The child either swallows or has an injection of a mild, radioactive material that is not harmful. After a short wait, a scanning device is passed over the body to detect where the radioactive material collects in the body and allows the doctor to locate tumors. Your child will not be radioactive during or after these tests. CT scan (computerized tomography scan) or CAT scan This test obtains a three-dimensional picture of organs and tissues; ordinary x-rays give a two-dimensional view. Using pencil-like x-ray beams to scan parts of the body, a CT also gives better pictures of soft tissues than does an x-ray. It provides precise and very useful details about the location, size, and type of tumor. While the child lies still, a large machine moves back and forth, taking pictures. The scan takes 30-90 minutes. Sometimes a special dye is injected into a vein before the scan. If your child has a central venous line in the chest, it generally cannot be used during a CT scan of the chest. It is important to prepare your child for an IV in the hand. MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) An MRI creates pictures of areas inside the body that cannot be seen using other imaging methods. MRI uses a strong magnet linked to a computer. Because an MRI can see through the bone, it can provide clearer pictures of tumors located near the bone. The child lies on a flat surface, which is pushed into a long, round chamber. Your child will hear a loud thumping noise, followed by other rhythmic beats. The test takes 15-90 minutes, during which your child must lie still. Sometimes a special dye is injected into a vein before the test.

Common Health Issues

Pain relief, nutrition, treatment for infections, immunizations, bleeding, transfusions, and dental/mouth care are all part of supportive care. The goal of supportive care is to prevent or lessen the side effects of the treatment and the disease. With this care, your child can receive the needed therapy with greater safety and comfort. You may want to talk with your child's doctor or other members of the treatment team to see how the information provided below might help your child.

Pain

Your child may have pain for a variety of reasons. Pain may be caused by the cancer itself, or it could be from the treatment, such as surgery to remove a tumor or side effects of chemotherapy. Sometimes, cancer patients have pain that has nothing to do with the cancer, such as a toothache or a headache.

Not all children with cancer have pain. Those who do are not in pain all of the time. Medicine and other treatments can almost always relieve cancer pain. Relieving pain will not only make your child more comfortable, but also may help your child sleep and eat better. Parents often feel helpless when their children are in pain. This reaction is natural. Knowing what to expect and what can be done to relieve pain can help. Talk with the doctor and treatment team about whether your child is likely to have pain, what pain treatment your child can receive, or what to do for your child if pain occurs.

How Is Pain Managed?

The best way to relieve pain is to treat its cause. If a tumor is causing pain, the doctor may try to remove the tumor or decrease its size using surgery, radiation therapy, and/or chemotherapy. Other ways to relieve or control pain include use of:

• direct pressure or cold or warm compresses
• pain medications
• physical therapy
• relaxation
• distraction
• imagery
• nerve blocks

Preventing pain from starting or getting worse is the best way to control it. Some people call this "staying on top of the pain." It may also mean that your child will need a lower dose of a pain reliever than if you wait until the pain gets bad. Different pain medicines take different lengths of time to work, from a few minutes to several hours. If your child waits too long to take pain medicine, the pain may get worse before the medicine helps.

To treat your child's pain, the doctor may start with medicines such as acetaminophen. If the pain increases, stronger drugs that require a prescription may be needed. Sometimes, opioids are prescribed. Narcotics are the strongest pain relievers available. Studies show that taking narcotics to relieve cancer pain will not make your child addicted to drugs. When your child is taking opioids, talk to the doctor, nurse, or pharmacist before giving him or her any other medications.

Work closely with the treatment team in sharing information about your child. For example, if you know that your child is afraid of needles, ask the doctor if your child can be given oral medicine. In older children and adolescents, the doctor may order a self-controlled drug "pump." This method uses a portable computerized pump containing pain medicine attached to a needle that is placed in a vein or attached to the central vein catheter. When pain relief is needed, the child presses a hand-held button, and the pump injects a preset dose of medicine into the vein. Pumps are programmed to give preset doses only at preset intervals, so even if the c