Resources and information for parents of children with cancer . . . by parents of children with cancer.

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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 ped-onc 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.

Book and Article on Drug Development

Making Better Drugs for Children With Cancer. 2005. National Academies Press offers this book either for sale or for free page-by-page online viewing. A good discussion of the issues of drug developments for childhood cancer.

Also of interest is the article on childhood cancer drug development in the Summer 2008 issue of CURE.

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

Fertility issues on this Ped-Onc Website.

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.

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