Childhood Cancer

Many tamariki (children) with cancer will have surgery during their treatment. Most surgeries happen in the operating room while your child is asleep under general anaesthesia.

Chemotherapy treatment uses anti-cancer medicines (drugs) to treat cancer by stopping cells from growing, or by destroying cells.

There are 3 types of treatment commonly used to manage cancer in tamariki (children). They are chemotherapy, surgery and radiation therapy. There are a variety of procedures that your child may need during their treatment for childhood cancer.

A port-a-cath or powerport, known as a port, is a small chamber, about the size of a 20 cent coin. It has a silicone centre that can be pricked with a special needle many times. It has a thin flexible silicone tube attached.

If your child has cancer, they may need a special tube called a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC). Find out what this is, why your child may need one, and how to care for it.

If your child has cancer, they may need a special tube called a tunnelled cuffed central venous access device (CVAD). Find out what this is, why your child may need one, and how to care for it.

A central venous catheter is a device that allows health professionals to give medicines, fluids and blood products into a large central vein that leads directly into your child's heart.

You and your child will benefit from being well prepared. Ask as many questions as you need to get a clear understanding of what is going to happen and why.

 If your child has cancer they may need some tests to find out how well their organs are working.

A biopsy is a test where a doctor takes a piece of tissue out of the body to check for cancer cells.

X-rays and scans take pictures of various parts of the body. Bones show up most clearly but you can also see other tissues.

A lumbar puncture is a procedure to collect and look at the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord. 

A bone marrow aspirate is a test to see if blood cells in your child's bone marrow are healthy. The test will also show whether cancer cells have spread to the bone marrow from another part of the body.

Your child's healthcare team will order regular blood tests to check for a low blood count and to know when it is safe to give the next dose of chemotherapy.

Your child will need to have some tests if your doctor thinks they may have cancer.

If your child has had a recent cancer diagnosis, you'll probably want answers to some general questions - about how cancer develops, treatment and what terms like 'remission' and 'relapse' mean.