![]() If your child is not able to drink liquids or has decreased amounts of urine, your doctor may consider admitting your child for IV hydration. If one medicine does not work for your child, it is important to tell your doctor as there may be a different option. There are many different medicines that can help improve these symptoms. If your child does not feel like eating, it is important to keep your child hydrated with water, juices, and broths. If your child’s appetite decreases, they can try eating multiple smaller servings each day instead of 3 larger meals. It is also common that children’s taste preferences change during treatment. Symptoms related to radiation tend not to be as severe as those brought on by chemotherapy, except in children who receive radiation to the pelvis or abdomen. Most kids who receive chemotherapy or radiation will experience some nausea, vomiting, or loss of appetite. Be sure to check with your doctor before using any over-the-counter medicines. It is important to call your doctor if your child experiences any fever or chills. Staying hydrated can help clear the mucus. Some symptoms include a runny nose, chills, and a cough. Some medications can affect the body’s inflammatory response, causing flu- or cold-like symptoms. Your child’s energy should return to normal after treatment is over. Encourage your child to rest when needed and take it easy with activities. This may worsen when a child’s red blood cells are low, or the child is anemic, which may require a blood transfusion. This feeling is normal and occurs with all types of treatment. During treatment, and possibly for a short time after it is over, kids are likely to feel tired and “foggy-headed”. See below to learn about some side effects a child may experience with chemotherapy or radiation and how to manage them: Fatigueįatigue is the most common side effect of chemo and radiation. Your child’s doctor will talk with you about the treatment needed for your child and common side effects that you may see. Chemo’s side effects also depend on the medicine used, while side effects of radiation depend on the location where it is given. Side effects of chemo and radiation are dependent on the dosage and the child’s health. Your child’s doctor may modify his or her treatment to help reduce any side effects. Many side effects improve over time, but some can be long-term. Some kids have only a few side effects, while others have many over the course of treatment. ![]() Some side effects can be more serious, while some are less severe. Treatment is adjusted for every child, which affects the side effects that can occur. Your doctor will come up with a treatment plan based on your child’s age, type of cancer, and where it is located. Some kids need both chemo and radiation, some need only one of them, and some may need other types of treatment. Different types of cancer need different types of treatments. Common side effects of chemo and radiation Radiation therapy can lead to side effects in the area being treated. While healthy cells can be affected, they will usually repair any damage and heal after treatment. Radiation damages the DNA of the cancer cells, causing them to die. Radiation is designed to target the specific area where cancerous cells are located, hoping to reduce any negative effects on healthy cells. Since chemo targets cells all over the body, it can cause side effects outside of where the cancer is located. These medicines are not specific to one part of the body and work to prevent cancer cells from spreading throughout the body. Some types of cancer need only one of these types of treatment, while other types of cancer may need both.Ĭhemo targets and kill fast-growing cells. ![]() While chemotherapy and radiation are both treatments used to treat cancer, they differ in the way they work. Difference between chemotherapy and radiation It is important to know what side effects your child may experience so doctors and nurses can help to manage them. Some children only have a few side effects, while other children may have many. Every person reacts differently, so a child receiving chemotherapy or radiation will be monitored closely during treatment. Some side effects will show up right away, while others may develop over time. When healthy cells are damaged, this can cause various side effects. They work by destroying the fast-growing cancer cells in the body, but they can also damage fast-growing healthy cells like blood and hair cells. Uncontrolled cell growth can lead to masses of cancer cells called tumors or can stop healthy cells from working efficiently.Ĭhemotherapy, or “chemo,” and radiation are the most common types of treatment for cancer. Cancer cells divide and multiply much faster than normal cells. Cancer occurs when the body’s control mechanism stops working and instead of old cells dying, they continue to grow.
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