Treating Cancer in Children: Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy or “chemo” uses cancer-fighting medicines to destroy cancer cells. Chemo can be used alone or with surgery or radiation therapy to shrink a tumor or prevent its spread. Chemo medicines are strong. They often cause side effects such as nausea and hair loss.

Goals of chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is used to: 

• Destroy cancer cells or stop cancer cells from growing and dividing

• Cause remission (no evidence of the disease on medical testing)

• Cure cancer (no evidence of the disease years after treatment)

How chemotherapy works

Chemotherapy uses medicine to kill cancer cells. But it also affects healthy cells, especially ones that grow fast. This includes cells in the mouth, blood, skin, and hair. This is why side effects, such as hair loss, occur. Chemo is given in cycles. After a treatment cycle ends, time is set aside so that normal cells can recover before the next cycle begins.

How chemotherapy medicines are given

• Intravenous (IV) line.  A small tube called an IV is placed into a vein in the arm or another part of the body to give chemo medicines. Sometimes, a long-term IV is surgically placed in the body. This is called a central venous line or "central line". It allows medicines and other treatments to be given without having to place a new IV each time. IVs are the most common way chemo medicines are given.

• Pills or liquid. The medicines are taken by mouth and swallowed.

• Injection. The medicines are injected into a muscle in the arm or leg, or in the skin over a fatty part of the belly.

• Intrathecal. The medicines are injected into the lower part of the spine. This is called a lumbar puncture (spinal tap). The medicine goes directly into the spinal fluid. This way of giving chemo is important because certain cancers grow in the spinal fluid.

Your child may be given chemo in the hospital, at a clinic or at home. He or she may be given more than one medicine at a time. This is called combination chemotherapy. It’s stronger and may be more effective at killing cancer cells.

Side effects of chemotherapy

Side effects occur when normal cells are affected by chemo. Most side effects are short-term and go away soon after treatment ends. But others may be long-term and permanent. Or, they may occur months or even years after treatment. Each chemo medicine can have its own side effects. Ask your child’s healthcare provider what side effects your child may have. It’s not likely that your child will have every side effect. But, he or she may have some of the following:

Short-term side effects

These effects can occur during the treatment period:

• Increased risk of infection

• Bleeding

• Anemia (a condition that occurs when the blood doesn’t have enough red blood cells to carry oxygen throughout the body)

• Hair loss

• Mood changes

• Dizziness

• Trouble concentrating

• Tiredness (fatigue)

• Clumsiness

• Achy muscles

• Sores in the mouth or gut

• Stomach pain

• Nausea and vomiting

• Constipation

• Allergic reaction, such as hives or itching

Long-term side effects

These are effects that may appear months to years after treatment:

• Infertility

• Damage to certain organs, such as the heart, kidneys, liver, or lungs

• Nerve damage that lasts

• Another cancer that occurs at a later time

Treatment and testing

Your child will likely be given medicine to treat the short-term side effects of chemo. This may include medicines to ease nausea, vomiting, constipation, and pain. The healthcare team will also teach you how you can help manage your child’s side effects. Also, your child may have tests done to check for possible long-term side effects, such as organ damage. Talk with your child’s healthcare provider about this.

Cancer resources

To learn more and find support check out these resources:

• American Cancer Society   
  800-227-2345
  www.cancer.org

• National Cancer Institute  
  800-422-6237
  www.cancer.gov

• CancerNet 
  www.cancer.net

• Children's Oncology Group   
  www.childrensoncologygroup.org