The Information Book Edition 3 - Paediatric Integrated Cancer Service

Is it safe for our child to go to the beach, pool, spa, sauna, river,creek or dam?If your child is having radiotherapy and you notice any skin changes(eg. peeling or blistering), you should not go to the beach, pool, spa, sauna,river, creek or dam.Beach – Yes. But not if your child is neutropaenic or has a Hickman ® in place.Be careful in the sun as sunscreen should not be applied to radiotherapy areas.Spa / sauna – NoRiver, creek or dam – NoPools – Yes, if the pool is well maintained and your child is not neutropaenic.No, if your child is neutropaenic or has a Hickman ® in place.Can our child still go to school even though he / she is receivingtreatment?Yes. It is very important for your child and your family to maintain as normala routine as possible. Please see Section 3, Living with cancer, How schoolscan support young people receiving treatment for cancer.Is it safe for our child to continue with sport and leisure activities?Yes in general. If your child’s platelet count is low, avoid contact-sports andactivities where there is increased risk of injury. Discuss individual cases withyour consultant.DietDo I need to alter our child’s diet?As a general rule, no. Milk must be pasteurised (not straight from the cow).Under-cooked meats should be avoided. If you have any questions regardingyour child’s food, the dietitian is the best person to talk to.Can our child take multivitamins and other herbal medicines?Multivitamins are not usually necessary. The dietitian will discuss yourchild’s nutritional needs with you. Some herbal medicines can be potentiallydangerous. You should talk to your child’s consultant before giving your childany of these. Anti-oxidants should not be given during radiotherapy.Can our child drink tank water?Tank water should be boiled before drinking.Sec.8.2 Frequently asked questionsUpdated July 2012