Childhood Leukemia Chemotherapy Side Effects

Children treated for brain tumors or acute lymphoblastic leukemia all are more likely to be affected due to the therapies used to treat these cancers.

Childhood leukemia chemotherapy side effects.

Some common side effects of chemotherapy drugs used for childhood leukemia are. She published a research paper in september last year showing that childhood all survivors are more likely to have difficulties with memory and inhibition or voluntary restraint of motor actions than children who have not had leukemia. Late effects of treatments for childhood leukemia. Patients and families often feel overwhelmed physically and emotionally.

These side effects may occur within days after beginning chemotherapy treatment. A child s whole body is growing. Cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy can cause problems with mental functions such as concentration memory and the ability to multitask to keep track of and do different tasks at the same time. However your medical team will be with you always and if your side effects are serious they will lower your dose and do anything that helps you feel better.

Sometimes weeks or months later. These problems are known as cognitive late effects. Many of these stop when treatment stops. Coping with side effects.

In some cases however side effects follow a different. Most people associate cancer treatment with well known side effects like nausea and hair loss. Hair loss mouth sores loss of appetite diarrhea nausea and vomiting. However cognitive problems have been.

Long term and late effects can include. These side effects can include. Side effects of chemotherapy will depend mainly on the type of drug the dose how it s given and your child s overall health. Learning problems can develop in children treated with high dose chemotherapy or intrathecal chemotherapy with methotrexate or.

These short term side effects usually go away over time after treatment is over. Dr van der plas specializes in looking at the neurocognitive effects of childhood leukemia treatment. These problems may become noticeable months or even years after treatment and may change over time. Chemotherapy damage to quickly dividing cells can cause side effects such as low blood cell counts nausea diarrhea or hair loss during treatment.

It is normal to feel frustrated sad angry embarrassed or self conscious. Low blood cell counts sore mouth and throat. Some side effects can be hard to discuss. Late effects on the other hand may happen many years later.