Chemotherapy for childhood cancer

Chemotherapy is a common way our doctors treat many childhood cancers. The drugs typically travel throughout the body, stopping cancer cells from growing and multiplying.

Advocate Children’s Hospital provides chemotherapy infusion in our cancer center drugs that children take at home. Our Oak Lawn and Park Ridge locations let your child get care and medications without driving into the city, in a welcoming environment. We also work to minimize side effects, while supporting your family should any occur.

Learn more about the cancers we treat.

Our approach to chemotherapy at Advocate Children’s Hospital

As with our cancer treatments, your care team thoroughly explains any recommendations for chemotherapy. You’re always part of the decision-making.

Our social workers serve as your family’s partner throughout treatment, from the first consultation until after your visits end. They help coordinate appointments and arrange for the right experts to attend. A dedicated Child Life coordinator also helps your child adjust to the many aspects of their diagnosis.

We give some chemotherapy drugs directly at our cancers centers and provide others for your child to take at home. Chemotherapy usually happens on a schedule, with doctors leaving time in between sessions for your child to recover. While effective, chemotherapy is often hard on children’s bodies.

Why we give chemotherapy

Our doctors might use chemotherapy as the only treatment for cancer. They also might recommend it as part of a larger plan, with the drugs given before, with or after other treatments.

Doctors match a chemotherapy drug, or drugs, to the specific details of your child’s diagnosis, for the best chance of success. The goals of chemotherapy vary from child to child but may include:

• Curing cancer by getting rid of it completely
• Slowing the growth of a tumor to give doctors time to do other treatments
• Helping shrink tumors before another procedure, such as surgery or radiation therapy
• Destroying cells that might remain in the body after surgery or radiation therapy
• Treating recurring cancer, or cancer that comes back after initial treatment
• Treating metastatic cancer that has spread to other parts of the body

Chemotherapy side effects

While chemotherapy provides a powerful tool for treating cancer, it can also cause side effects that are sometimes uncomfortable for a child. Side effects happen during treatment because chemotherapy targets fast-growing cells, even if those cells aren’t cancerous.

Our doctors talk to you and your child about potential side effects and how your care team can help you through them. They also let you know how to keep your child as comfortable as possible during this important phase of treatment. Side effects vary by child, but may include:

• Tiredness
• Infections
• Nausea and vomiting
• Hair loss
• Appetite loss
• Diarrhea

Chemotherapy late effects

Cancer treatments can also cause side effects that show up later in life. We make sure your family knows what to look for as your child matures, as well as what steps you can take. Our Pediatric Oncology Survivors in Transition (P.O.S.T.) program helps your family watch for late effects and also provides other support.

Late side effects of chemotherapy may include:

• Learning problems
• Bone growth that’s not normal
• Hearing loss
• Vision and dental problems