I am parent / caregiver of a child diagnosed with cancer

Immunotherapy is a type of biological therapy that harnesses or modifies the body’s own immune system to prevent, control or eliminate diseases, most notably, cancer. Unlike chemotherapy or radiation which directly kill cancer cells, immunotherapy works by empowering the patient’s immune system to fight the disease, potentially offering longer-lasting targeted results.

Some children with leukaemia, certain other forms of cancer, diseases of the bone marrow that are not truly cancerous and some genetic diseases, require a bone marrow transplant as part of their treatment. 

Chemotherapy describes the drugs used in the treatment of cancer. Drugs may be given orally, intravenously, subcutaneously, intramuscularly or intrathecally.

Each type of cancer is different and therefore treated differently. This article tackles how a parent or caregiver can prepare for radiotherapy.

To make the right decision can be a huge stressor. The decisions that one makes for their own child may not only have an influence on the child, but on the whole family going forward.

The medical jargon (language) of childhood cancer is difficult to understand and is complex.

A child with cancer will always have a multidisciplinary team, and within that, each discipline (like nurses, doctors, therapists) may function as intra-disciplinary sub-teams to ensure consistency.

Cancer begins with something almost invisible — a single cell that loses its ability to grow in an orderly way. As that cell multiplies unchecked, it can form tumours, crowd out healthy tissue, and in some cases spread to other parts of the body.

Hearing that your child needs surgery can feel overwhelming. Surgery is often an important step in diagnosis or treatment, and your care and preparation can make a real difference.