You will probably have many questions about what will happen and what to do when treatment finishes, such as:

• When can my child go back to school/preschool/day care?
• Do we need to come back for check-ups, and how often?
• Will my child develop normally?
• Should my child be avoiding certain activities?
• What should I look out for?
• What if my child develops a fever?
• Can my child have vaccinations?
• Will the cancer come back?
• Will my child develop another cancer from the treatment?

Many of these questions will be answered by your child’s doctor. The answers will be different depending on how old your child is, and what type of cancer and treatments they had.

It is useful to make sure that your regular general practitioner (GP) or other health professional has the complete details of your child’s diagnosis and treatment. This will help the doctor assess your child during any future visits, whether they are part of a regular check-up or for another health problem.

Depending on your child’s age and treatments, they might not be able to do some activities even after treatment ends. The doctor will advise which ones, and for how long. After time, your child should be able to participate in most, if not all, activities with their friends.

This information is reproduced with permission of Cancer Australia and you can download the full Cancer Australia’s Neuroblastoma Fact Sheet here.

 

Neuroblastoma is a disease which can have devastating consequences for patients and families, but with every piece of research the hope for a cure comes closer.

Treatment plans in some instances become not only about beating the disease but ensuring the best quality of life for the patient once treatment is over.

More information

• Life after children’s cancer - Cancer Australia
• Emotional wellbeing after treatment - Cancer Australia
• What happens after treatment for neuroblastoma? - American Cancer Society 
• Late and long term effects of neuroblastoma - American Cancer Society 
• Getting back to normal after your child finishes cancer treatment - American Cancer Society
• Returning to school after cancer treatment - American Cancer Society