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.
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.
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