Germ Cell Tumors Patient & Family Handbook

Each type of catheter requires slightly different care. A port requires almost no care at home, but a special needle will need to be inserted through the skin into the port each time it is used. Tubing can then be attached to the needle if needed to give medication or IV fluids. An external central line requires routine changes to the dressing that covers the exit site of the line and keeps it in place to prevent infection and to care for the skin around the tube. The external lines also must be routinely flushed with a solution to keep them working properly. You will be taught how to care for the device at home. HOW CAN GERM CELL TUMORS BE TREATED? Three types of therapy most often are used to treat germ cell tumors: surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. The type of treatment offered to your child will depend upon the type of tumor and the amount of disease. A combination of treatments often is used. Your child’s doctor will talk with you about the best treatment choices The main treatment for benign and malignant germ cell tumors is surgery. Surgery to remove the main part of the tumor most often is done at the time of diagnosis. This is when the biopsy may be taken. For some noncancerous germ cell tumors, surgery may be the only treatment needed. For very large cancerous tumors, your child may receive chemotherapy or radiation first to shrink the tumor before surgery. Your child may need a “second-look” surgery after receiving a certain amount of treatment. This type of surgery is done to observe your child’s response to the treatment and plan for any further therapy that may be needed. CHEMOTHERAPY for your child. SURGERY

Chemotherapy is the use of medicines to stop cancer cell growth. Some chemotherapy drugs are known to be useful in the treatment of germ cell tumors, but there is no single chemotherapy medicine that can control this disease by itself. Each of the medicines kills the cancer cells in a different way, and this is why two or more chemotherapy medicines often are given together. Most chemotherapy medicines are given through a vein, and each treatment can last several days. When chemotherapy is needed, close monitoring of your child will be a priority. Your child’s healthcare provider will talk to you about the possible side effects of the specific chemotherapy treatment for your child as well as the medicines that can be given to control the side effects. RADIATION

Radiation therapy may be used in the treatment of some germ cell tumors. If your child needs radiation, the radiation oncologist will discuss with you how the radiation will be given and how long the treatments will last. Radiation treatment is very precise and is given in specially measured amounts by radiation therapy experts. Most of the time, children getting radiation therapy experience only a few side effects, such as feeling tired or having a decreased appetite. The possible side effects will be discussed with you in detail. HOW LONG WILL MY CHILD’S THERAPY LAST? This depends on the type and stage of your child’s tumor at the time of diagnosis. Most often, the treatment is given over several months. Follow-up blood tests and checkups between and after treatments often are done in the clinic or doctor’s office.

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