"At no time does a disease become more of a family illness then when cancer strikes a child".
Understanding Childhood Cancer: A Passport To Knowledge has been helping children understand cancer diseases, including leukemia, tumors, blastoma, sarcoma, and Hodgkin's Disease, for over five years. Experts from a wide variety of professional disciplines have contributed valuable information, knowledge and expertise that is useful in helping people make more informed decisions about care and management of childhood cancer.
Includes:
*Answers to 200 of the most commonly asked questions about cancer, answered in everyday language, with full colour illustrations,
*A drug database listing the brand and pharmaceutical names of all chemotherapy, pain control, and anti-nausea drugs, including a description of their intended effects, administration, and side effects, listed by severity and frequency,
*A glossary of cancer-related terms,
*A cartoon character database that allows children to visualize the processes occurring inside their bodies,
*Video interviews with parents whose children have had cancer, to provide encouragement and sound advice to help with the difficult days that may lie ahead,
*On-line help.
Questions answered in Understanding Childhood Cancer include,
About Cancer
*What is cancer?
*How do cancer cells and tumors form?
*Could I have done anything to cause or to prevent my child's cancer?
*What types of cancer are there?
Monitoring Cancer
*How is cancer discovered?
*Was an earlier diagnosis possible?
*What tests are there for cancer?
Treatment
*Is there a cure for cancer?
*Who decides on my child's treatment?
*How long will treatment last
*What kinds of treatments are there?
Care At Home
*How do I monitor for illness and side effects?
*When should I seek medical assistance?
*What should I watch for at home?
Coping
*What do I tell my child?
*How can I help my child cope with typical problems?
*What should I say to friends and relatives?
Interviews
*What fears did other parents have?
*How protective were other parents of their child?
*How did other parents cope with the stress?
Understanding Childhood Cancer: A Passport To Knowledge was written by members of the Oncology Team at the Alberta Children's Hospital in conjunction with the University of Calgary Medical School to serve as a roadmap for families of children newly diagnosed with Cancer.
