Childhood Leukemia Chemotherapy Side Effects

Dealing with side effects can be very difficult.

Childhood leukemia chemotherapy side effects.

Dr van der plas specializes in looking at the neurocognitive effects of childhood leukemia treatment. Most people associate cancer treatment with well known side effects like nausea and hair loss. These short term side effects usually go away over time after treatment is over. These problems may become noticeable months or even years after treatment and may change over time.

A child s whole body is growing. These side effects can include. 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. Hair loss mouth sores loss of appetite diarrhea nausea and vomiting.

However chemotherapy side effects typically cause fear and apprehension. Patients and families often feel overwhelmed physically and emotionally. 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. Chemotherapy damage to quickly dividing cells can cause side effects such as low blood cell counts nausea diarrhea or hair loss during treatment.

Coping with side effects. Learning problems can develop in children treated with high dose chemotherapy or intrathecal chemotherapy with methotrexate or. Late effects on the other hand may happen many years later. Late effects of treatments for childhood leukemia.

Many of these stop when treatment stops. These effects are sometimes referred to as chemobrain or brain fog. 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. Sometimes weeks or months later.

However cognitive problems have been. Long term and late effects can include. These side effects may occur within days after beginning chemotherapy treatment. In some cases however side effects follow a different.

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. Low blood cell counts sore mouth and throat. Some common side effects of chemotherapy drugs used for childhood leukemia are. It is normal to feel frustrated sad angry embarrassed or self conscious.