Dr van der plas specializes in looking at the neurocognitive effects of childhood leukemia treatment.
Childhood leukemia chemotherapy side effects.
These problems may become noticeable months or even years after treatment and may change over time.
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.
Many of these stop when treatment stops.
These side effects may occur within days after beginning chemotherapy treatment.
Patients and families often feel overwhelmed physically and emotionally.
Dealing with side effects can be very difficult.
Coping with side effects.
These effects are sometimes referred to as chemobrain or brain fog.
Hair loss mouth sores loss of appetite diarrhea nausea and vomiting.
Learning problems can develop in children treated with high dose chemotherapy or intrathecal chemotherapy with methotrexate or.
Most people associate cancer treatment with well known side effects like nausea and hair loss.
However chemotherapy side effects typically cause fear and apprehension.
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.
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.
Low blood cell counts sore mouth and throat.
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.
It is normal to feel frustrated sad angry embarrassed or self conscious.
In some cases however side effects follow a different.
Chemotherapy damage to quickly dividing cells can cause side effects such as low blood cell counts nausea diarrhea or hair loss during treatment.
Some common side effects of chemotherapy drugs used for childhood leukemia are.
Sometimes weeks or months later.
These problems are known as cognitive late effects.
Late effects on the other hand may happen many years later.
A child s whole body is growing.
Long term and late effects can include.
Late effects of treatments for childhood leukemia.
Some side effects can be hard to discuss.
Side effects of chemotherapy will depend mainly on the type of drug the dose how it s given and your child s overall health.
