Going Home
We understand that going home for the first time after your diagnosis and caring for your child during treatment can be overwhelming and scary. We will ensure that you have all the information to do this safely.
The Central Venous Line booklet contains all the information you need to care for your child’s central line.
Remember, if you are ever unsure about something regarding your child’s care, please get in touch. We are always happy to help.
There are some useful resources to help on these recommended websites:
Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group - Everyday life
Young Lives vs Cancer - Protecting your child from infections
Socialising & Activities
Your child should be encouraged to socialise and maintain good relationships with family and friends. Your child may feel different at various stages of their treatment, and whenever they feel well enough, it is important to encourage normal socialising to prevent your child from feeling isolated during their treatment. Family and friends can visit as long as they are not unwell (for example if they have a cough and cold, diarrhoea and vomiting).
Your child can enjoy many of their normal activities during treatment. Certain sports such as swimming and rugby are restricted whilst your child has a central line and is receiving treatment. However, your child should be encouraged to continue other activities that they enjoy. You may wish to time your visits to busy places such as shopping centres and cinemas to visit at ‘quieter times’ to minimise risks of infection.
For more information please read this CCLG leaflet
It is important that your child can grow and develop in a normal social environment as much as possible. If you have any queries about what is allowed, please ask your child’s nurse.
Chemotherapy and radiotherapy can make your child’s skin much more sensitive to sunlight and therefore prone to sunburn. Please use maximum factor sun-block creams and a sunhat during the summer months when your child is outside. Your GP can prescribe sun-block.
If your child is receiving radiotherapy, the radiotherapy team will give you information on using sun-block during the summer months.
School/Nursery
Returning to school or nursery after diagnosis and treatment will be different for each child/young person and will depend on their treatment and how they are feeling. We generally advise attending school as much as possible, even if your child is neutropenic. Your child’s consultant and cancer nurse specialist will be able to advise on when your child can return to school. The Cancer Nurse Specialist team can liaise with your child’s teachers to help with returning to school.
Here are some web links for more information about returning to school.
Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group - Information for schools
Medicines
Any medications your child needs at home will have the instructions clearly written on the bottle or packet. Your child’s nurse will also explain them to you before you leave hospital. Please ask if you need them labelled more clearly, or if you or your family members have difficulty reading. There are lots of things we can do to help. We are here to help so ask if there is anything you don’t understand. Please do not give any other medications that haven’t been prescribed without discussing it with us first.
Please call if you have any questions about the medications your child has been sent home with. Advice is available 24 hours a day.
Here are some handy tips if your child is struggling with taking medication:
Young Lives vs Cancer - How can I get my child to take their tablets
Medical Alert Cards
If your child develops a high temperature or is unwell and you attend the Emergency department– please use your child’s Medical Alert Card (shown below) to help ensure your child is seen quickly. You can show your Medical Alert Card to any Emergency Department in the country to inform staff that your child needs to be seen and treated urgently.