No matter how you look at it, having cancer is scary. Knowing what to expect will help you feel a little more prepared. Below is brief overview of how things work. Your Children’s Minnesota care team will be there to provide more information, guidance and answers to questions along the way.
Treatment for cancer has predictable phases, each with challenges and decisions to be made.
After some tests—such as blood draws, diagnostic imaging (like x-rays) or biopsies (surgeries or procedures that remove cancer cells)—you’ll meet with your care team to discuss test results and figure out a plan for your care.
During the treatment phase, we put your care plan into action. Your care team will provide treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation, surgery. We also provide services to manage your symptoms, and side effects of treatment.We can provide many resources to help with mental, emotional and social support.
After treatment, you’ll work with our STAR (surveillance and testing after recovery) clinic team to create a “survivorship plan” to help you get back to your life. The plan will help independently manage your recovery with nutrition, exercise plans and information on how to recognize possible side effects from treatment.
Finishing treatment is a major milestone. People who have been cured of cancer may be affected for months or years by their disease or treatment they received. Children’s Minnesota Long-Term Follow-Up (LTFU) Program monitors cancer survivors for late effects and addresses any problems that may occur.
During your treatment, you may also be enrolled in one or more clinical trials—research studies designed to test new therapies for cancer, improve existing treatments and enhance the quality of life for those living with cancer. Clinical trials are an important treatment option for cancer patients of all ages, and patients who participate often have better results than those that don’t.
At Children’s Minnesota, access to clinical trials is a priority. There are currently more than 100 research studies in the cancer and blood disorders program actively enrolling patients. Children’s Minnesota Open Studies search tool allows you to search by blood disorder or cancer diagnosis to see open treatment studies. Talk to your care team to find out if a clinical trial is right for you.