• Allergic reactions to blood, blood products or antibiotics.
• Changes in plans to attend school or social functions or to go on family trips.
• Therapies that are only partially successful.
• Special kinds of treatment such as investigational protocols or bone marrow transplantation.
Each and every one of these problems or curves can be difficult to manage. But each and every one has been managed successfully by other children and other families of children who have cancer. Sometimes, a curve can't be maneuvered and it is necessary to move onto the pessimistic road. But for most children with cancer, the curves can be managed and the climb up the mountain is successful. Treatment may be for six months or a year or even two, three or more years, but the top of the mountain can be reached.
The goal for all children with cancer is that they will be cured. More and more children with cancer are attaining this goal and are growing up to be healthy adults. So children and their parents should be optimistic. Knowing that cure is a possibility, each child and his or her family should plan on climbing the mountain and reaching the top. On the top, the sky is blue and the sun is shining.
