Childhood Brain and Spinal Cord Tumors
Questions to ask the doctor
Before giving your child any drug, you should be given answers to the following questions:
- What is the dosage? How many times a day should it be given?
- Should the drug be given at a particular time of day or under specific conditions (e.g., on an empty stomach or before bed)?
- What are the common and rare side effects?
- What should I do if my child experiences any of the side effects?
- Will the drug interact with any over-the-counter drugs (e.g., Tylenol®), foods, or vitamins?
- What should I do if I forget to give my child a dose?
- What are both the trade and generic names of the drug?
- Should I buy the generic version?
- Will you give my teen detailed counseling about the risks associated with drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes or marijuana, or getting pregnant while using this drug?
Table of Contents
All Guides- Introduction
- 1. Diagnosis
- 2. The Brain and Spinal Cord
- 3. Types of Tumors
- 4. Telling Your Child and Others
- 5. Choosing a Treatment
- 6. Coping with Procedures
- 7. Forming a Partnership with the Treatment Team
- 8. Hospitalization
- 9. Venous Catheters
- 10. Surgery
- 11. Chemotherapy
- 12. Common Side Effects of Chemotherapy
- 13. Radiation Therapy
- 14. Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation
- 15. Siblings
- 16. Family and Friends
- 17. Communication and Behavior
- 18. School
- 19. Sources of Support
- 20. Nutrition
- 21. Medical and Financial Record-keeping
- 22. End of Treatment and Beyond
- 23. Recurrence
- 24. Death and Bereavement
- 25. Looking Forward
- Appendix A. Blood Tests and What They Mean
- Appendix C. Books and Websites