28) Not-so-fun facts about childhood leukemia

1. Parents with babies or toddlers will need to wear gloves during diaper changes for 48 hours after a chemotherapy treatment so they are not exposed to the chemicals that are excreted through their child's urine and feces.
2. A simple fever will mean a trip to SickKids or your satellite hospital with the potential of admission to determine the source of infection and whether it requires antibiotics.
3. During the course of treatment, a 3 days per week dose of antibiotics is required to prevent a type of pneumonia to which oncology patients are susceptible.
4. The drugs used to treat your child can have potential side effects including jaw pain, headache, mouth sores, dizziness, hair loss, nausea, and vomiting.
5. Potential scarier side effects include bloody urine or stool, seizures, trouble breathing, blood clots, and stroke.
6. Potential late term (down the road) effects include joint damage, weak bones, neurocognitive deficits, heart problems, and infertility.
7.  Even when your child is in remission, there is an underlying fear of relapse or of secondary cancers.