100 Questions & Answers About Your Child's Cancer

by William L. Carroll, Jessica Reisman

Overview

100 Questions & Answers About Your Child’s Cancer gives you authoritative, practical answers to your questions about childhood cancer, treatment options, post-treatment quality of life, coping strategies — for both patient and caregiver, sources of support, and much more. This book is an invaluable resource for understanding and coping with the medical, psychological, emotional and financial aspects of a child sick with cancer.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780763731403
Publisher:	Jones & Bartlett Learning
Publication date:	10/19/2004
Series:	100 Questions & Answers about
Edition description:	1E
Pages:	181
Sales rank:	450,785
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

William L. Carroll, MD, received his medical degree from the University of California, Irvine, and completed his Internship, Residency and Chief Residency in Pediatrics at Cincinnati Children's Medical Center. He then pursued sub-specialty training in pediatric Hematology/Oncology at Stanford University Medical Center. Throughout his career Dr. Carroll has merged clinical practice with basic research into the origins of childhood cancer. Currently he is Professor of Pediatrics at New York University and Mount Sinai Schools of Medicine and leads the program in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology on both campuses. He also holds the Edward and Julie Minskoff Chair in Pediatrics at NYU and is Director of the Stephen D. Hassenfeld Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders. Dr. Carroll is Chair of the Children's Oncology Group Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Study Committee and directs clinical and translational research in ALL at over 240 institutions worldwide.

Jessica Reisman, CSW, is the Senior Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Social Worker at New York University Medical Center/Hassenfeld Children's Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders. Ms. Reisman graduated with a BA in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin, Madison and received her Master of Social Work at New York University. She received post-graduate training in family therapy at the Ackerman Institute for the Family. Ms. Reisman created and co-facilitates a teen/young adult support group and is co-leader of the Bereavement Program at HCC. She has lectured and presented domestically and abroad on the needs of inner-city youth with cancer and chronic illness. Ms. Reisman was nominated for APOSW (Association of Pediatric Oncology Social Workers) Pediatric Oncology Social Worker of the Year in 2003.

Table of Contents

	Foreword	v
	Preface	ix
Part 1	The Basics	1
	Questions 1-7
	What is cancer?
	What causes cancer?
	What is a tumor?
	Special Feature: Common Cancers of Children
Part 2	Diagnosis	33
	Questions 8-24
	Our child is suspected of having cancer. What do we do next, and what can we anticipate?
	What is a biopsy?
Part 3	Treatment Options	53
	Questions 25-45
	What is my child's prognosis?
	How quickly do I need to make a decision about treatment options?
	Will surgery help my child?
Part 4	Side Effects and Complications of Treatment	87
	Questions 46-66
	Are new medicines available that don't have the same side effects typically associated with conventional treatment?
	What can I do to prevent side effects of treatment?
	What are blood transfusions, and what are the signs that my child may need one?
	Will my child be in pain?
Part 5	Treatment Facilities and Healthcare Providers	111
	Questions 67-76
	What should I look for in an oncologist/clinic?
	Who should I expect to encounter during my child's course of treatment?
	What and who is "child life" and how can it help?
	What if my child needs medical assistance at home?
Part 6	Living and Coping with Cancer	123
	Questions 77-100
	How do I explain the diagnosis to my child?
	What can I do to help my teenager cope with her diagnosis?
	How do I explain this diagnosis to my (other) children, and how can I help them cope?
	How can I help myself cope through this difficult time?
	Appendix	155
	Glossary	165
	Index	175

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer: Patricia D. Shearer, MD, MS (Ochsner Clinic Foundation)
Description: This is a handy guidebook written by a practicing pediatric oncologist and pediatric oncology social worker about childhood cancer. Its question and answer format is divided into sections dealing with the basics of the disease, diagnosis, treatment, side effects, treatment facilities, and adaptive issues.
Purpose: The purpose is to serve as a comprehensive resource for individuals affected by childhood cancer. It is intended to address issues that arise from diagnosis through completion of therapy and long-term follow-up.
Audience: The book is written especially for patients and parents (thus the title), but has wider appeal to providers and individuals interested in learning the practical aspects of pediatric oncology.
Features: The preface contains a strong endorsement by Dr. Gregory Reaman, Chairman of Children's Oncology Group. The authors present concise descriptions of tumor types, treatment modalities (including types of marrow and stem cell transplants), supportive care (such as antibiotics, transfusions, anti-emetics, reproductive issues, and nutrition), palliative care, psychosocial issues, and members of the team. A section on developmental milestones by age is an important addition. An appendix and glossary provide a list of resources and definition of unfamiliar terms, respectively. Comments from parents highlight the topics. "Black box" insertions facilitate grasp of salient points in each section. The omission of references contributes to the succinct answers the authors give to each question.
Assessment: This book is similar in format and content to Steen and Mirro's Childhood Cancer: A Handbook from St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (HarperCollins, 2000). Although this not the only book of its kind to address common questions about pediatric cancer, it is effective in conveying useful, up-to-date information to patients, family members, and providers.

Doody's Review Service

Reviewer: Patricia D. Shearer, MD, MS(Ochsner Clinic Foundation)
Description: This is a handy guidebook written by a practicing pediatric oncologist and pediatric oncology social worker about childhood cancer. Its question and answer format is divided into sections dealing with the basics of the disease, diagnosis, treatment, side effects, treatment facilities, and adaptive issues.
Purpose: The purpose is to serve as a comprehensive resource for individuals affected by childhood cancer. It is intended to address issues that arise from diagnosis through completion of therapy and long-term follow-up.
Audience: The book is written especially for patients and parents (thus the title), but has wider appeal to providers and individuals interested in learning the practical aspects of pediatric oncology.
Features: "The preface contains a strong endorsement by Dr. Gregory Reaman, Chairman of Children's Oncology Group. The authors present concise descriptions of tumor types, treatment modalities (including types of marrow and stem cell transplants), supportive care (such as antibiotics, transfusions, anti-emetics, reproductive issues, and nutrition), palliative care, psychosocial issues, and members of the team. A section on developmental milestones by age is an important addition. An appendix and glossary provide a list of resources and definition of unfamiliar terms, respectively. Comments from parents highlight the topics. "Black box" insertions facilitate grasp of salient points in each section. The omission of references contributes to the succinct answers the authors give to each question.
Assessment: This book is similar in format and content to Steen and Mirro's Childhood Cancer: A Handbook from St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (HarperCollins, 2000). Although this not the only book of its kind to address common questions about pediatric cancer, it is effective in conveying useful, up-to-date information to patients, family members, and providers.