Being a child diagnosed with cancer can be very devastating. The chemotherapy and/or radiation used to treat the cancer changes every aspect of the child’s life. The therapy depletes the child’s energy, causes nausea and vomiting, and the risk for infection often keeps them confined to their homes. Though attempts are made to try to maintain the same lifestyle prior to cancer treatment, the child endures countless changes to their activity level, friendships, and emotions. What happens to them when treatment ends? Does their life go back to normal as if cancer never happened, and the side effects from chemotherapy will no longer affect them? Just because they have been declared cancer free doesn’t mean their battle is over. A child receiving cancer treatment can suffer from countless side effects, some that continue long into their adult lives. These can include damage to the nervous system, musculoskeletal system, reproductive system, cardiovascular system, and not to leave out emotional issues.
Children undergoing chemotherapy can suffer from many side effects to the nervous system. When these children are unable to express their thoughts they are said to be suffering from “chemo brain”. Their ability to process thoughts are delayed, and often times their recall is impaired as well. When talking to children undergoing chemotherapy they may have long gaps in their thoughts, and sometimes have to be reminded about the subject being discussed. These children can also suffer complications of neuropathy in their hands and feet impairing their ability to feel hot and cold, and their ability to walk properly. According to the American Cancer Society (2014), “some types of chemo cause learning disabilities in children.” These cognitive impairments are often times displayed as lower IQ scores, lower test scores, problems with memory and attention, poor hand-eye coordination, and behavior problems (American Cancer Society, 2014). Research has found that chemotherapy...