Pediatric cancer
12 articles shown
Pediatric Brain Tumors: A Parent's Map of Diagnosis and Treatment
Pediatric brain tumors are first mapped with MRI for location and size, then, when possible, surgically removed so a biopsy can confirm the type, after which chemotherapy and radiation are added based on tumor type, the child's age, and any remaining tumor. Very young children may receive chemotherapy first to delay radiation's effect on brain development. The article explains, for parents, how diagnosis and the treatment plan are decided together by several specialties.
My Child's Chemoport: Watching Over the Insertion and the Daily Care
From the day a chemoport was placed under my child's chest skin before chemotherapy, through the needle access at each treatment, the cleaning and bathing care at home, and the heart-stopping nights when a fever came, this is a caregiver's quiet account. It is a record of how a small device that frightened us at first slowly became a trusted lifeline for our family.
Coaxing a Hospitalized Child to Eat — Between the Neutropenic Diet and Snacks
A child on chemotherapy often loses appetite and tastes things differently, and resists eating. While keeping the safety rules of the neutropenic diet, this piece offers a parent's tips: serve small portions in small bowls, try food cold or tart, catch the moments when the child does want to eat, and use safe store-bought snacks wisely. The goal is to get even one happy bite down.
After a Childhood Cancer Cure: Growth, Development, and Why Long-Term Follow-Up Matters
Even after a child beats cancer, a new task begins once treatment ends. Chemotherapy and radiation can leave late effects on a growing body that only surface much later, such as height growth, puberty and hormones, heart and hearing, learning, and rarely a second cancer. That is why long-term follow-up checks at the right times, catching and addressing problems early, is the heart of survivorship.
What About School While Your Child Is in Treatment? From Hospital School to Going Back
For children who have to miss school for a long time during pediatric cancer treatment, this article walks through hospital schools, video lessons, attendance credit, and how to prepare for returning to class, all from a parent's point of view. It covers handling attendance, filling learning gaps, and how to work things out with the school in advance, with a practical sense of how it all comes together in real life.
When the Neutrophils Drop: How to Set Your Child's Table
A caregiver-friendly guide to feeding a child safely during the low-neutrophil phase of chemotherapy — covering how to cook and store food, hand and utensil hygiene, mouth care, and gentle ways to vary the diet for a child who has lost their appetite.
The Child Who Was Hospitalized with Neuroblastoma: A Record of That Long, Slow Recovery
A caregiver's quiet, honest account of one family's journey through neuroblastoma, from diagnosis to chemotherapy and surgery, and on through a recovery that came one slow step at a time. It records the hardships of hospital life, how a caregiver keeps going, and the joy found in small bits of progress.
After Childhood Cancer Treatment Ends, Why Are the Follow-Up Checks So Frequent?
A calm walk-through of the routine follow-up checks after childhood cancer treatment: the basic items (exam, blood work, imaging, bone marrow/MRI, and so on), how the intervals stretch out over time, the late side effects that need watching, and what parents can do.
When Your Child Says "My Head Hurts": Warning Signs You Shouldn't Brush Off
Childhood brain tumors are easy to miss early on because they hide behind common symptoms like headaches and vomiting. Things worth watching for include headaches that are worse in the morning, sudden vomiting with no warning nausea, changes in balance or the way a child walks, crossed eyes or double vision, and a rapidly growing head circumference in babies. The key isn't any single symptom but a "pattern of change"—several signs piling up and getting worse over a few weeks—and getting it checked out in time.
Caring for the Siblings It's Easy to Overlook When All Eyes Are on the Sick Child
When a family's attention is consumed by a child's cancer treatment, it's easy for the brothers and sisters to slip into the background. This piece looks at the guilt, isolation, and anxiety siblings often feel, and offers practical ways to care for them: honest, age-appropriate explanations, ten minutes of one-on-one time a day, and asking the people around you for help.
After a Childhood Cancer Diagnosis: How to Secure Special Cost Coverage and Medical Expense Support
Right after a childhood cancer diagnosis, there are several programs that can dramatically lower your family's medical bills. This guide walks parents through registering for the Special Cost-Coverage program (san-jeong-teukrye), which sharply reduces out-of-pocket costs, along with medical expense support for children under 18, the annual out-of-pocket ceiling, and private insurance claims. We cover where to apply and what documents you'll need. Talking to your hospital's social work team first can save you a lot of time.
Childhood Leukemia (ALL & AML): The Types and Treatment Path, Explained for Parents
Childhood leukemia splits into lymphoid-line ALL and myeloid-line AML, and in children ALL is by far the most common. After a bone marrow exam and genetic analysis sort out the type and risk level, ALL goes through a long sequence of induction, consolidation, central nervous system prophylaxis, and maintenance, while AML relies on short, intense bursts of chemotherapy. When the risk is high, a stem cell transplant may be considered, and outcomes for childhood ALL have improved considerably.