| Chapter 2: | Background |
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Radiation therapy is another common form of treatment for childhood cancers. It involves the use of high energy X-rays to destroy or damage cancer cells, although it is notable that radiation can also damage healthy cells in the area where it is administered (Brown, 2006). Common side effects of radiation therapy may include nausea, vomiting, mouth sores, and skin changes (i.e., skin may look and feel like a sunburn); other more long-term effects of radiation therapy may include problems with growth hormone production, learning problems, declines in IQ, slowed processing speed, and difficulties with sustained attention and memory (Marsland, Ewing, & Thompson, 2006).
Surgery is another treatment option for childhood cancers, although it often plays a minor role among children with leukemias or lymphomas (Brown, 2006). However, for children with solid tumors, surgery can be an effective treatment option. Surgery can be classified into three main types: primary, second look, and supportive care surgery (Brown, 2006). Primary surgery is used to remove all or most of the tumor at the time of diagnosis. However, in some cases, the tumor may be too large or in any area of the body where it cannot be safely removed. In these instances, primary surgery is done after chemotherapy or radiation therapy, which is given to help reduce the size of the tumor. As the name implies, second look surgery is done after chemotherapy or radiation in order to take out what may be remaining of the tumor, while supportive care surgery is done to help with some aspect of the patient’s care (i.e., inserting a catheter, gastrostomy tube, etc.).
Children with certain types of cancer may also be candidates for bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Bone marrow is a spongy tissue that produces blood cells and is located inside certain bones of the body. In leukemias, the bone marrow itself is the source of the cancer and transplantation with healthy bone marrow may be needed to cure the cancer (Brown, 2006).