What is cancer?
Cancer happens when a group of cells in the body stop working properly – they can also stop healthy cells doing their job. Some cancer cells grow into a lump or tumour. Leukaemia happens when some of the blood cells do not work properly. The cancer cells can sometimes spread to different parts of the body and people can get very sick when this happens, so it’s important to let the doctors and nurses help you get better.
When you go to hospital
There are lots of different people who work in hospitals and it is their job to make you better as quickly as possible. The doctor may ask you to have some tests done so that they can find out what is making you to feel unwell.
Some hospitals have WiFi and some hospitals can lend you iPads. You will be able to keep in contact with your friends through social media. You can watch TV, boxsets and films.
There may be other children in hospital at the same time as you that you can play with in the play area. Many hospitals have play specialists who can help you find something you enjoy doing, even when you aren’t feeling well.
Mums and Dads are allowed to stay with you in hospital all day long and can even stay at night if you want. Some children like to bring a favourite blanket for their bed or even a pillow.
Read Lucy’s story to find out what hospital is like.
People you can meet
A nurse will help to give your medicines and treatments, and look after you on the ward.
A hospital teacher will help with your schoolwork, if you feel well enough.
A physiotherapist helps with exercises to keep your muscles strong and working well.
A dietician makes sure you are eating enough of the right kinds of food to help you get well.
A psychologist can help by talking with you if you feel sad or worried or angry and give you some tips to help.
A play specialist can find ways to keep you entertained in the ward, and also helps get you ready for any tests you need.
A dentist can make sure your teeth are in tip top condition.
An outreach nurse (also called a POON) might come to your house to do some tests or talk to you and the grown-ups about your treatment.
A consultant is a doctor who is in charge. They have teams of doctors to help.
A chaplain can help by talking about your worries, or about things that you believe in.
There will be other members of the team you might meet. Lots of new people!
New or unfamiliar words you hear when going to hospital
Anaesthesia is medicine that doctors and nurses give to make people feel comfortable when they’re having surgery or stitches removed.
Antibiotics Say:an-ti-by-ah-tiks
These medicines fight germs that make you sick.
Biopsy Say:by-op-see
A small test that gives doctors a look at what’s going on inside.
Bone Marrow
Bone marrow is a thick, spongy kind of jelly inside your bones and it makes all kinds of blood cells.
CT Scan or CAT Scan
CT scans are a kind of X-ray that gives doctors a much better picture of what’s going on inside the body. Like X-rays, CT scans don’t hurt.
Chemotherapy Say:kee-mo-ther-ah-peeChemotherapy is the use of special medicines to treat cancer. These medicines are very powerful and sometimes people treated with these medicines lose their hair.
IV Say: i v
IV is short for intravenous. You can get nourishment, fluids, and medicine through an IV if you are very sick.
Neurologist Say:nyoo-ral-ah-jist
A neurologist is a doctor who helps people who have epilepsy (seizures), headaches, trouble moving their arms or legs.
Oncologist Say: on-call-a-jist This is a doctor who treats patients who have cancer. Oncologists who treat kids are called paediatric oncologists.
Operation Say:ah-per-ay-shun
An operation is also called surgery, and it’s when doctors fix something inside the body to make the person feel better.
Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy uses xrays to treat cancer. This makes the cancer cells die and shrinks the size of the tumour.
Symptoms Say:simp-tums
When you’re sick, you usually have symptoms – like a high temperature. Telling a doctor your symptoms, can help him or her figure out what’s wrong.
Ultrasound Say:ul-tra-sound
Ultrasound is another way doctors are able to take a look inside the body.
X-ray Say:eks-ray
X-rays are special pictures of the inside of your body. A doctor will decide when you need an X-ray and what body part needs to be X-rayed.
Advice for those close to you
https://www.cclg.org.uk/csoir/advice-on-talking-to-children
https://www.younglivesvscancer.org.uk/life-with-cancer/my-child-has-cancer/your-family/
https://www.teenagecancertrust.org/information-about-cancer/how-support-someone-cancer
https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/supporting-someone/emotional-support-for-family-and-friends