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100 Questions & Answers About Your Child's Cancer

Author(s): William L. Carroll, MD, New York University and Mt. Sinai Schools of Medicine - Hassenfeld Center for Childhood Cancer, New York City, New York
Jessica Reisman, CSW, Hassenfeld Center for Childhood Cancer
Details:
  • ISBN-13: 9780763731403
  • ISBN-10:0763731404
  • Paperback    181 pages      © 2005
Price: International Sales $19.95 US List
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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. 
 

ShowKey Features

Concise, easy-to-read paperback book

Written by an authoritative author team with contributions from actual parents of sick kids

Provides practical answers to your questions about treatment options, quality of life, emotional coping, sources of support, and much more

Offers guidance on financial considerations of a child with cancer

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ShowTable of Contents

Part 1: The Basics
Questions 1-6 provide information about childhood cancer with such topics as:

  • What is cancer?
  • What causes cancer?
  • What is a tumor?
  • What do the terms benign and malignant mean?

Part 2: Diagnosis
Questions 7-23 address the ways in which childhood cancers are identified and classified:

  • My child is suspected of having cancer, what do we do next and what can I anticipate?
  • What is a biopsy?
  • What is a Lymphoma?

Part 3: Treatment Options – Methods of Treatment
Questions 24-43 explain how childhood malignancies are treated.

  • What is my child’s prognosis?
  • How quickly do I need to make a decision about treatment options?
  • Will surgery help my child?
  • What is a clinical trail and how will my child’s treatment be affected if we decide to participate?
  • What happens if the cancer doesn’t respond to therapy or comes back?

Part 4: Side Effects and Complications of Treatment
Questions 44-65 address the physical, emotional, and behavioral dimensions of treatment side effects.

  • Are there new medicines available that don’t have the same side effects that are 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?
  • What are the risks of all of the x-rays that my child will receive?
  • Will my child’s eating habits change during treatment?

Part 5: Treatment Facilities and Healthcare Providers
Questions 66-75 offer advise on finding the right facility and health care providers for your child.

  • 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?
  • What options are available if my child’s cancer cannot be cured and palliative care is the only choice?

Part 6: Living and Coping with Cancer
Questions 76-100 discuss the interpersonal changes cancer brings, including how to communicate with your child, family and friends; the social and emotional impact of cancer on a teenager, and coping emotionally and financially as a parent.

  • How do I explain the diagnosis to my child?
  • What can I do to help my teenager cope with their 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?
  • Should I tell my family and friends about the diagnosis?
  • I’ve heard of cancer support organizations, what are their functions?
  • Are there financial resources available to me and my child?
  • When should my child resume “normal activities” once treatment has begun?

Appendix
A list of Web sites, organizations, and literature to help pediatric cancer patients and their families find additional information on general and specific topics related to childhood cancer.

Glossary
Index


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ShowAbout the Author(s)

William L. Carroll, MD-New York University and Mt. Sinai Schools of Medicine - Hassenfeld Center for Childhood Cancer, New York City, New York

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.

Additional Titles by this Author

Jessica Reisman, CSW-Hassenfeld Center for Childhood Cancer

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.

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ShowReviews

  • “…an authoritative, well-written, and easy to understand source of consumer health information…highly recommended for public libraries and consumer health information centers.”

    ––Stacey L. Knight-Davis
    Librarian, Eastern Illinois University
    E-Streams: Vol. 8, No. 4

    "100 Questions & Answers About Your Child's Cancer is a helpful guide that can empower parents to be educated and effective advocates for their child. With answers that are readily available and easy to understand, parents can better focus on the physical and emotional needs of their child. As you and your child move through the treatment process, this resource will answer the questions that you didn't even know you wanted to ask!"

    -- Andrea Horsch, RN
    Outpatient Hematology/Oncology Nurse

    "Working within the Child Life program at an outpatient pediatric oncology clinic, I am constantly on the lookout for appropriate, comprehensive materials for parents of children with cancer. This book is an excellent resource for parents who want straightforward, valuable information for themselves, their children, and concerned family members and friends. It will also become an invaluable addition to any pediatric oncology professionals's library, as it addresses the most common issues raised by patients and their parents."

    Jenny Steingruebner, CTRS
    Recreation Therapist at an outpatient hematology/oncology clinic

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