Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy or chemo treatment is special medicines (drugs), which help by stopping the wrong cells growing and multiplying. Chemo medicine (drugs) is very strong and unfortunately causes other things like sickness, tiredness and hair loss. This means that during treatment they will not have the same energy to do things. Hopefully things will get back to normal when chemo finishes.

How is Chemo given?

Chemo is given through a special drip, which is usually connected to the arm. This will not be sore.

How does the doctor know that the sick person is getting better?

In the hospital there is a large team of people whose job it is to look after the person who is sick. They do lots of tests to find out if the treatment is working as it should. 

Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy is a treatment, which uses radiation to kill the cancer. Special x-ray beams are directed on to the part of the body where the cancer is. This is to kill the cancer cells before they divide and grow. Small marks are made on the skin so that the beam hits exactly the same spot each time. The beam will affect only cells in this part of the body. This is very strong treatment and they will not have the same energy to do the things they normally do everyday. When radiotherapy finishes hopefully things will get back to normal.

How the sick person get treatment?

A special machine with a bed for them to lie down on, directs the powerful x-ray beams on to the marks on the body that shows where the cancer is inside. This is not sore but they have to stay very still. 

Surgery

Surgery is an operation.  It helps to fight the illness by removing the cancer cells that have stuck together to form a tumour. The sick person will probably be sore until the opening (cut)  that has been made to remove the tumour heals. They will be given medicine to help take away this pain.

How the sick person get the treatment?

A special doctor called a surgeon will make an opening (cut) in the skin where the cancer is to take out as much of the tumour as they can. Another special doctor called an anaesthetist will put them into a deep sleep so that they will not feel anything during the operation. They will need to stay in hospital so that the doctors and nurses can look after them until they are well enough to go home.
 

What is /neuromuscular disorders?

Muscular dystrophy or neuromuscular disorders is the name used to describe a group of conditions, which cause a gradual loss of muscle size and strength. This means that over time the muscles become weaker and it becomes more difficult to carry out tasks and actions such as walking.

Muscular Dystrophy (neuromuscular conditions) sadly, doesn’t have a cure as yet, but there are some things that can help like physiotherapy. 

• A physiotherapist teaches how to do special exercises and stretches to help the muscles move better and also help with breathing. 

• There is also equipment like callipers, wheelchairs and standing frames that can help with getting about. The physiotherapist will help decide what equipment will best help.

Don’t forget if you are worried about something there are a lot of people involved in your care who are very happy to answer your questions, just ask, nothing is silly if it is bothering you!

Note for Parents

Because muscular dystrophy is the name given to a number of conditions it is hard to give detailed information on this web site. The Muscular Dystrophy Campaign web site provides more detailed information on the different types of muscular dystrophy and a number of fact sheets are available for download.