It Takes a Village: Your Child’s Cancer Care Team

Guest blog post written by Rilynn Joanna

While pediatric cancer can be overwhelming for your child and your entire family, having a good care team can make a world of difference. Your little warrior’s care team is not just there to diagnose and treat the illness. These professionals are also available to you for support and guidance as you navigate this journey. By regularly communicating with the care team, your family can face the events with greater clarity and direction. Get to know all the professionals that your family will meet and befriend during your child’s battle with cancer.

Your child’s cancer care team may look different, but here are some individuals that you may meet during your journey

Pediatric Oncologist

A pediatric oncologist will be your child’s ally in battling the disease. Dealing with cancer is a lot tougher for young minds, which is why these doctors are specialized in caring for children who have been diagnosed with cancer. Pediatric oncologists will guide and assist you in planning the medical care that your child needs. With their help, you can weigh your treatment options and understand how to properly care for your little one. They will also coordinate with the other members of the team and supervise treatments to make sure that your child is properly taken care of. There are also pediatric psycho-oncologists who are specialized in providing medical and social care for your kid as they go through this life-altering experience.

Pediatric Hematologist

Pediatric hematologists are skilled in treating children who are dealing with blood disorders. So if your child is diagnosed with leukemia or lymphoma, pediatric oncologists may refer you to these specialists and make them essential members of your child's cancer care team.

Radiation Oncologist

The majority of children who are diagnosed with pediatric cancer seek treatment through radiation therapy or chemotherapy, which are two options you need to consider with the help of a radiation oncologist. These treatments can shrink tumors or destroy cancer cells so that your child can become healthier and happier!

Nurse Practitioners

Your child will frequently interact with nurses, so it’s important for them to get acquainted with some of the most essential members of their care team. Your family will be regularly visited by registered nurses who will administer tests and check your kid’s status. Your child will also be supervised by advanced nurse practitioners (NPs) who have passed their master of science in nursing, such as pediatric NPs and family NPs. The former is very skilled in dealing with child care, so they can properly explain the process to your child as they are diagnosing and treating the condition. Your family can also benefit from working with family NPs, who are skilled in caring and educating your entire family during this tough journey.

Healthcare Technicians

Healthcare technicians will be present in your child’s journey, particularly during diagnostic and treatment procedures. Your kid does not need to worry, since these medical professionals are skilled in explaining and executing the tests or procedures that need to be conducted. For instance, radiation technicians are trained in handling various radiation equipment while surgery technicians aid doctors for a more successful operation.

Counselors, Social Workers, and Support Groups

Your kid’s mental health is very important too. This is especially true as childhood cancer can be very extensive and traumatic for young individuals. The whole process can also be very overwhelming for your entire family, which is why counselors and social workers are important parts of your care team.

Aside from mental health professionals, you can benefit from joining a support group. These groups are typically formed by people who are going through the same experiences as you and your child, and already have some valuable insights that you can apply. Support groups for the parents or the family can also connect you to the right people (such as oncologists), while support groups for young cancer patients can help them connect and socialize with others going through the same thing. These support groups are great sources of practical advice, as well as compassion, understanding, and maybe even hope.

Your child is going through a heavy challenge at a young age and they are going to need the help of a good care team. By understanding the roles these different people play in your lives, you can extend better support to your child.