I don’t understand my illness

Our bodies are made up of tiny blocks called cells. Our bodies are made up of tiny blocks called cells. When you have cancer, one of these cells in your body is growing faster than what they should. Normal cells grow, work and when our bodies don’t need them anymore, they die in a controlled way. A cancer cell doesn’t follow that rule and your body needs help to get rid of it.  

Cancer is not contagious; you didn’t do anything to cause it.

There are different kinds of treatment to help you get better. 

You might get medicine called chemotherapy which is a very special medicine that fights the cancer cells. You will get the medicine through a tiny tube called an intravenous line (IV). An IV looks like a tiny straw that goes into your arm which helps the medicine to get  into your body (through the IV)  better and faster. You might feel a quick pinch when the doctor puts it in, but then it is done. The doctor will put a plaster on it to tape it down safely.  Sometimes chemotherapy can make you feel tired, or your tummy might feel funny, but that’s the medicine working. It might make your hair fall out, but it will grow back. Remember, even though it might feel uncomfortable sometimes, the medicine is helping your body get better.

Some childhood cancer patients may also need radiation which is like a very strong light that can target the cancer. The light  can go inside your body and help fight the bad cells that make you sick. You will lie down on a soft bed while the machine does its work.  It doesn’t hurt while it’s working, but it can make a part of your body a little tired or sore later, but this will go away after the doctor treats you.  The machine might make a funny noise, but it won’t touch you. 

In some cases, surgery is needed to remove the tumour. You will be asleep and won’t feel anything, and you will have a small scar. You can talk to the surgeon about the operation and what the recovery will look like.   

There is a soft part inside your bones called bone marrow. That is the “factory” where your blood is made.  Sometimes, the cancer or the treatment can make the marrow too tired or sick to work and then doctors need to do stem cell transplants. These new cells go into your blood (through your line, not surgery!) and travel to your bones. There, they start making new, healthy blood to help your body get strong again.”

Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that helps your own immune system to recognize cancer cells and to fight them. 

Meet Keemo!

Keemo is a calf from South Africa. Very playful and friendly, Keemo wants to share about his experience with cancer. 
Click below to discover Keemo's first visit to the doctor.

Found Keemo's video helpful? Click here for more content from Keemo.

Credits for all Keemo videos go to CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation SA. (n.d.). “Welcome to Kiddies Corner. Hey! I’m Keemo.”

Books to Help You Know What to Expect!

Here is a collection of books by Angus Olsen to help you understand cancer and what might happen next.

 Still unsure what cancer is? Read My Cancer.

 What are scans? Why do you need them? Scans are unmasked with My Scans.

 Why is medicine important? The answer might be in My Medicine.