CAN MY CHILD ATTEND SCHOOL DURING TREATMENT? Your child’s ability to go to school during therapy will depend on the intensity of the treatment and your child’s response to the treatment. There may be extended periods
when your child is unable to go to school because of hospitalizations or treatments. However, it is important that your child keep up with schoolwork, even during these times. Federal laws protect children with disabilities or illnesses to ensure that they receive the same education as their peers. Talk with your child’s healthcare team and school staff about these laws. Then work with them in arranging for a tutor or finding other ways to help your child stay on track with schoolwork.
Discuss with the healthcare team your child’s ability to attend school. Some children are able to attend school between hospitalizations or treatments. Many hospitals and clinics have resources such as educational liaisons to assist in coordinating school services and educating teachers and classmates to prepare them for your child’s return to school.
WHAT IS MY CHILD’S PROGNOSIS? Prognosis is a word that doctors use to describe what they believe the outcome will be for a patient, including their chances of recovery. Your child’s cancer prognosis is as unique as he or she is. There are many factors that affect survival outcomes. A child’s age at diagnosis, the extent of disease, genetic factors, infections, nutrition, delays in the timing of treatment, and how well your child’s body can tolerate chemotherapy and radiation all play an important role in the child’s long-term outcome. Because general statements about survival rates are just numbers, please talk to your medical team about your child’s individual prognosis and plan of care.
ONLINE RESOURCES CureSearch: www.curesearch.org
National Cancer Institute’s Childhood Rhabdomyosarcoma Treatment (PDQ®)–Patient Version: https://www.cancer.gov/types/soft-tissue-sarcoma/patient/rhabdomyosarcoma-treatment-pdq National Cancer Institute’s Childhood Soft Tissue Sarcoma Treatment (PDQ®)–Patient Version: https://www.cancer.gov/types/soft-tissue-sarcoma/patient/child-soft-tissue-treatment-pdq
National Cancer Institute’s Taking Part in Cancer Treatment Research Studies: cancer.gov/publications/patient-education/cancer-treatment-research-studies National Cancer Institute’s Clinical Trials Information for Patients and Caregivers: cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/clinical-trials
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