Section 7: Side effects and supportive care

Avascular necrosis (AVN) of the bone is a rare but serious complication of cancer treatment.

Children or young people with cancer may require blood component support throughout their journey. This section covers blood, platelet and white cell transfusions.

Peripheral neuropathy is a condition we are most likely to see in children or young people (CYP) who are having treatment for cancers that involve multiple doses of vincristine (a neurotoxic agent) such as acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL).

This page provides an overview of the main side effects of chemotherapy.

Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) are said to be the most documented distressing side-effects of childhood cancer treatment, potentially influencing adherence with future treatments if not managed appropriately.

Constipation is a common symptom in children receiving palliative care.

Children and young people who are febrile have direct access back to their respective cancer centre.

Children and adolescents with cancer are more at risk of infections because of the disease itself and because of the treatment, both of which can affect the immune system.

In the UK, approximately 60–90% child and young person survivors of childhood cancer develop one or more chronic health conditions, requiring varying levels of intervention depending on the individual need.

Oral complications are a common side effect of cytotoxic anti-cancer treatment (including chemotherapy, radiotherapy and some immunotherapies). Oral complications are recognized as a distressing side effect which negatively impacts the quality of life of…

The aim of this section is to ensure community care professionals are aware of the nutritional support and advice children with cancer and their families will receive from the cancer care team.

The page explains what steroid induced myopathy is and shows who is at risk. It outlines common signs and symptoms, how it is assessed and the need for a multi-disciplinary (MDT) management approach.

Children and young people (CYP) with certain cancers may receive steroids as part of treatment (e.g., leukaemia, lymphoma) or to manage tumour‑related symptoms such as headaches or inflammation common in some brain tumours.