Did you know that your body is like a house? No? We’ll explain. All houses have walls, bricks, hallways, rooms… and so does your body. Your skin, which covers your entire body, is like the walls of the house. Inside the house, you have rooms and hallways.
In your house, the walls are made up of bricks, which are the cells. These are so small that we cannot see them individually. Some cells stick together to form organs and tissues, while blood cells swim freely inside the vessels throughout the body.
Cells multiply, and sometimes some of them like to play tricks. There are malignant (sick) cells that cannot coexist in the same body with benign (healthy) cells. The most annoying thing is that, just like healthy cells, malignant cells also make new cells, and in a short time, they exist in large numbers.
Malignant cells group together to form what we know as cancer. There are many treatments designed to destroy them. Let us explain it to you better:
The most common treatments used to destroy malignant cells include chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, surgery, and bone marrow transplantation.
It’s very important to trust your team of healthcare professionals, and you can rely on them to answer any questions you may have.
Chemotherapy is one of the ways to treat cancer. It involves medications that destroy malignant cells—these can be taken in tablet form or administered into your body through a needle. To avoid repeated needle sticks, a catheter is often placed; this is a small tube inserted into one of your veins. When cancer cells come into contact with chemotherapy, they are weakened and try to evade its effects. However, healthy cells help protect your body, preventing them from spreading further.
Chemotherapy can cause some side effects, such as nausea and hair loss (which usually grows back). Sometimes, cancer cells can hide so well that chemotherapy is not able to find them. For this reason, multiple rounds of chemotherapy may be needed, using different medications, and sometimes radiotherapy and surgery are also required. The goal is to ensure that all malignant cells are eliminated.
When cancer cells are concentrated in one area and are not fully destroyed by chemotherapy, radiotherapy may be needed.
Radiotherapy can also cause some uncomfortable side effects, such as difficulty swallowing, feeling constantly tired, and skin redness. Like chemotherapy, radiotherapy usually requires more than one session.
The most important thing in all of this is that, in the end, you can get better.
In your body, there are cells responsible for fighting and destroying malignant cells.
Immunotherapy is a treatment that multiplies and strengthens the cells in your body that fight malignant cells. It can involve a medication that tells your healthy cells to produce more fighting cells, or it can use lab-grown cells that are already programmed to attack cancer.
Malignant cells often have genetic changes that healthy cells do not. In some cases, there are specific medications that target these genetic alterations, allowing cancer to be treated in a highly precise way. These medications are often taken orally.
Sometimes, when malignant cells are clustered in one area, the doctor may need to remove them through surgery. This can be done before or after chemotherapy or radiotherapy, or it may not be necessary at all.
The surgery will be performed while you are completely asleep under anesthesia.
Bone marrow is a substance found inside your bones that produces blood cells. In some cases, if your bone marrow isn’t working properly and can’t produce the blood cells you need, a transplant may be necessary.
A bone marrow transplant is very similar to a blood transfusion. It basically involves introducing a blood-like substance into your body, which can come from a family member or an unrelated donor. This new marrow will replace your diseased bone marrow.
For the new marrow to grow properly inside your bones, you will need to stay in the hospital for a while, in an isolated room, to avoid bacteria or other harmful agents during this vulnerable period. Once you are fully recovered, you will be able to return home.
Treatments can cause various side effects, from nausea to hair loss. It’s important for you and your parents to speak with the medical team to find ways to make you as comfortable as possible.
Fatigue or shortness of breath
Some medications can reduce the number of red blood cells produced by your bone marrow. This decrease can make you anemic, causing extreme tiredness and shortness of breath. To help you recover, you may need a blood transfusion.
Bruises or bleeding
Some medications can reduce the production of platelets. Platelets are cells that help your blood clot (when you have a cut, they help stop the bleeding). You might experience nosebleeds, bleeding gums, or bruises. If this happens, a platelet transfusion may be necessary.
Nausea and vomiting
They happen because of the medications you are taking. However, anti-nausea medications (antiemetics) can help.
At these times, it’s important to have small, frequent, and easily digestible meals. It’s recommended to choose fresh foods and light meals that are mildly seasoned, low in fat, and without strong odors.
Don’t forget to drink fluids between meals—try to stay hydrated regularly. Drink plenty of water, herbal teas, or diluted fruit juices. Choose nutritious drinks, like fresh juices or smoothies, instead of soft drinks.
Mucositis
It is an inflammation of the mouth and/or throat that can make chewing and swallowing painful. Your diet should consist of soft foods served at lukewarm temperatures, avoiding hard or dry foods.
Loss of appetite
It is common and, because of this sometimes your sense of taste may change. Take the opportunity to try different foods or eat the ones you enjoy the most. It is it’s better to choose light meals that are still high in calories (such as bread, toast, cookies, biscuits, cereals, milk-based powders, yogurt, and ice cream). You can always consult the nutritionist who is part of your medical team.
Diarrhea
It can cause dehydration and nutritional imbalances. It’s important to eat frequently, choosing nutritious, easily digestible foods that are low in fiber (such as white bread, water crackers or Maria biscuits, rice, potatoes, pasta, meat, and fish).
Hair and body hair loss
It is one of the main side effects of treatments that target both cancerous and healthy cells, quickly affecting those that multiply the fastest, such as hair follicles, which are responsible for hair growth.
Hair loss doesn’t happen immediately. It usually occurs within the first few weeks after chemotherapy, but this depends on the treatment and can vary from person to person. Hair typically starts to grow back about 1 to 3 months after treatment ends. There’s no need to use special shampoos or lotions for hair loss, as they won’t prevent hair from falling out or make it grow faster.
Young people who have gone through cancer treatments report having “strange cravings” at unusual times and the urge to combine foods in ways others might not.
Cristiano felt like having cereal with Twix.
Patrícia craved Nestum with feijoada and chocolate cake with chorizo.
Paulo felt like having roasted mackerel for his first meal of the day.
Maria, at night, felt like eating arroz de cabidela, octopus, seafood, and toast with ham pâté.
By now, you’ve probably realized that the people who are with you on this journey share in your joys and celebrate with you. They feel the setbacks and suffer with you. Your siblings are no exception. If they don’t fully understand what’s happening and see attention focused only on you (which is completely natural and not your fault), talk to them. Explain what’s happening to you, how you feel, and what you think. Ask them questions! Find out if they understand your illness and the treatments you’re going through. Show interest in their lives and talk with them regularly — ask about homework, tests, classmates, or how college is going. Be there for them. Essentially, ask them to be understanding and supportive.
If you don’t have siblings, you can do the same with those close to you: share your feelings with them, answer any questions they may have, and suggest activities together, keeping up the things you used to do, even if you’re physically apart.
Cancer is in your body, but everyone around you is dealing with it too, and they share the same goal as you: to send cancer far away.
The end of treatment will likely be a period of mixed emotions. Since you first learned your diagnosis, this may be what you’ve been most looking forward to, but it’s normal if you don’t feel the joy you expected. Suddenly, you find yourself away from the healthcare team you saw every day, and new worries and anxieties can arise during this stage. It’s normal to feel this way, so don’t be surprised.
Your reaction can vary a lot. You may reintegrate without any difficulty, joyfully resuming your activities; you may feel more mature and start valuing different aspects of life; you may develop feelings of apathy and indifference, becoming more withdrawn and uninterested; you may feel very dependent on your family and insecure about facing the world. It’s natural to feel all of this.
Getting back into your routines, with your friends and classmates, can help with returning to life “after the hospital” and managing these feelings. This balance can be important for you. Everything you’ve been through will affect, for a while, your life and the lives of those around you. Your parents may have changed too: they might be more protective, more insecure, confused, or unsure about what’s best for you. Remember that it was also difficult for them to see your suffering, your treatments, and all the changes you went through. Talk to them. If you feel you need time, tell them: I need time to reestablish my routines, my goals, and my daily life.
Give them the opportunity to see that their love and support are very important for your return to daily life, helping you feel safe and motivated to embrace the challenges life brings.
It’s also normal to have questions about any possible symptoms that appear. Remember: your doctor and the rest of the medical team are always within reach — always ask them and clarify any doubts you may have. You will have follow-up appointments, where the main goal is to conduct a general medical evaluation and request any necessary tests. The frequency of these visits depends on several factors. During the first year, appointments will be more frequent, but over time, the intervals between visits will become longer. Your doctor can explain all of this in more detail — ask them and make sure all your questions are answered.
Some childhood cancer survivors face long-term effects. These can affect your physical and/or psychological well-being. It’s important to know that you can talk about these long-term effects with your doctor. They have been with you throughout your treatment and can answer your questions and, whenever necessary, refer you to the appropriate specialist. Remember that at this stage, it can be helpful to talk to someone about all the changes, feelings, questions, and worries you have. You can also rely on the Psychological Support provided by Acreditar.
You can also read more about this topic in the “Barnabé Diary.”
Cancer in adolescents and young adults (ages 15–25) is still a very under-researched topic, both in Portugal and worldwide. Being a young adult with cancer can sometimes feel like being in “no-man’s land,” with treatments often split between adult hospitals and pediatric hospitals.
Acreditar supports children and young people with a cancer diagnosis up to the age of 25, and this is your space. Together, we are growing in this support, and there is still a lot of information we don’t yet know.
If you are between 15 and 25 years old and have a cancer diagnosis, get in touch with us via email at tc@acreditar.pt or WhatsApp – 910 065 446. Your story makes a difference!
For a reading moment, we’re sharing some links with you:
You can also watch a webinar where we talked about young adults: who they are, where they are, and what their needs and specificities are.
Since the moment of diagnosis, your life has taken a turn: you’ve come to know the hospital inside out, your doctor has become part of your circle of friends, and you increasingly miss your family and friends…
We’ve selected some videos, websites, and books that can help you clarify questions or reflect on what cancer is.
We invite you to share with us other content that is important to you, so we can add it to this list and share it with everyone.
Send us your suggestions or questions at barnabe@acreditar.pt. Together, we are even stronger!
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