Cancer treatment can be done through surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy or bone marrow transplantation. In many cases, it is necessary to combine more than one mode.

RADIOTHERAPY

Treatment in which radiation is used to destroy a tumor or prevent its cells from increasing. These radiations are not seen, and during the application the patient feels nothing. Radiation therapy may be used in combination with chemotherapy or other resources in the treatment of tumors.

CHEMOTHERAPY

Treatment that uses medicines to fight cancer. They are applied, mostly in the vein, and can also be given orally, intramuscularly, subcutaneously, topically and intrathecally. The drugs mix with the blood and are carried to all parts of the body, destroying the diseased cells that are forming the tumor and preventing them from spreading throughout the body.

BONE MARROW TRANSPLANT

Treatment for some malignancies that affect blood cells. It consists of replacing a diseased or deficient bone marrow to a normal bone marrow cells for the purpose of reconstituting a new bone marrow.

EFEITOS COLATERAIS

Side effects are undesirable effects that may happen and depend on the types of prescribed drugs and the body of each patient. This means that some unpleasant side effects can occur with one person, while others feel nothing or are more leniently.

Chemotherapy causes apathy, lack of appetite, hair loss (which resumes after the end of chemotherapy), susceptibility to infections (by decreased patient resistance and decreased defense cells in the blood).

Bruising or other bleeding (due to low number of platelets), mouth ulcers, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, among others.

Radiotherapy makes the skin more sensitive, but overall, the side effects are very similar to those of chemotherapy.

PRECAUTIONS DURING AND AFTER CHEMOTHERAPY AND RADIOTHERAPY

After chemotherapy, a drop in blood cells (leukocytes, platelets, and red blood cells) is common, and the patient becomes immunosuppressed (neutropenic), meaning that there is a drop in the defenses against the microbes. Therefore, some care are needed:

Food:

During treatment it is necessary that the child's diet be adequate in calories, proteins and other nutrients. However, by the use of chemotherapy or radiotherapy, to control the disease, significant modifications can occur in the palate and cause nausea, vomiting, mouth sores, diarrhea, among others that may impair recovery.

Hygiene:

It isextremelyimportant. The wholebodyshouldbe clean andthenailscut off. The hygieneof home, furnitureandtoysalsocannotbeunnoticed.

Infections:

Avoid contact with sick people, such as those with chickenpox, flu, rubella and other infectious diseases, as well as vaccinated children and domestic animals.

Throughout the treatment, the child should not be vaccinated or allowed to be close to other children who have been vaccinated, since the vaccines are made with viruses or particles that in children undergoing chemotherapy and / or radiation therapy can cause harm because of the defense system does not operate normally.

You should also avoid blows and bleeding that can occur when brushing your teeth and to have your nails done, for example. It is important to avoid the sun because the skin during this process becomes more sensitive and can suffer severe burns.



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