Executive Summary
Survivorship begins immediately after the diagnosis of cancer. The individuals under treatment and whose disease conditions are cured after the treatment are referred to as the cancer survivors. Survival is considered one of the most challenging aspects in the case of astrocytoma, as everyone has unique conditions as per the disease’s severity. The survivors have experience emotions of concern, relief, remorse, and terror during their cancer journey. After undergoing Astrocytoma treatment, the survivors have survived with, through, and beyond a CNS tumor diagnosis. Children and their families may experience a range of powerful emotions after active treatment for astrocytoma finishes, including excitement, concern, relief, guilt, and dread. Coping with such emotional distress have been known to be the primary goal of survivorship. Recognizing the difficulties that your family is experiencing, solution-oriented thinking, requesting and accepting help from others, and feeling at ease with the course of action that the family takes are some of the most common coping effective necessitates. Joining an in-person support group or an online network of Astrocytoma childhood cancer survivors is beneficial to many survivors. It has allowed them to share first-hand experiences of their cancer journey with other children. Astrocytoma Treatment survivorship serves as a solid motivation to initiate healthy changes in lifestyle and maintain good health and live a cancer-free life.
Survivorship for Astrocytoma
Before talking about Astrocytoma survivorship, let’s know the term “survivorship.”
The term “survivorship” can imply many things to different people, but it most commonly refers to surviving with, through, and beyond a CNS tumour diagnosis. Astrocytoma Survivorship is one of the most challenging components of the experience since it is unique to each child and family.
Children and their families may experience a range of powerful emotions after active treatment for astrocytoma finishes, including excitement, concern, relief, guilt, and dread 1. Some people claim that they have become more appreciative of life since receiving the diagnosis. Other families are concerned about their child’s health and are unsure how to cope with daily life.
When frequent visits to the health care team come to an end following treatment, this can be a source of stress. Relationships with healthcare professionals often provide a sense of stability during treatment, and children and their families miss having this source of support.
It is especially true if additional concerns and challenges emerge over time, such as Astrocytoma treatment side effects, educational issues, emotional challenges, sexual development and fertility problems, and financial matters. Every family has its own set of worries and obstacles. Recognizing and discussing each concern is a wonderful starting step with any issue 2.
Coping effective necessitates:
- Recognizing the difficulties that your family is experiencing
- Solution-oriented thinking
- requesting and accepting help from others
- Feeling at ease with the course of action that your family takes
Joining an in-person support group or an online network of Astrocytoma childhood cancer survivors may benefit. There are also support groups for parents whose children have been diagnosed with a CNS tumor 3. It allows you to speak with others who have had comparable first-hand experiences. Talking with a friend or a member of your kid’s health care team, individual therapy, or asking for help at the learning resource Centre of the facility where your child had treatment are all alternatives for getting help.
Changes in caregiver’s roles
Transitions can affect parents, other family members, and friends as well. A caregiver plays a critical role in helping a child with astrocytoma by providing daily or as-needed physical, emotional, and practical care. Many caretakers get obsessed with providing this support, especially if the treatment lasts months or years.
However, as treatment progresses, the caregiver’s position frequently shifts. As your child gets older, the demand for caring due to a child’s diagnosis will become significantly smaller or disappear. Family counsellors can aid this adjustment at paediatric cancer facilities. After astrocytoma, you can live a healthy lifestyle.
Astrocytoma Survivorship is a powerful incentive for making lifestyle adjustments for the entire family 4.
Children with astrocytoma can improve their future quality of life by following recognized health standards into and through adulthood, such as not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, eating healthily, managing stress, and engaging in regular physical activity. Consult your doctor about creating a plan tailored to your child’s specific requirements.
Your child must receive appropriate medical examinations and testing to maintain their health. Consult your doctor about developing an Astrocytoma survivorship care plan tailored to your child’s specific requirements.
References
- 1.Effinger K, Stratton K, Fisher P, et al. Long-term health and social function in adult survivors of paediatric astrocytoma: A report from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study. Eur J Cancer. 2019;106:171-180. doi:10.1016/j.ejca.2018.10.016
- 2.Dara P, Slater L, Talreja D, Armentrout S. Long-term survivors of high-grade malignant astrocytomas. Med Pediatr Oncol. 1980;8(2):187-191. doi:10.1002/mpo.2950080212
- 3.Imperato J, Paleologos N, Vick N. Effects of treatment on long-term survivors with malignant astrocytomas. Ann Neurol. 1990;28(6):818-822. doi:10.1002/ana.410280614
- 4.Salcman M, Scholtz H, Kaplan R, Kulik S. Long-term survival in patients with malignant astrocytoma. Neurosurgery. 1994;34(2):213-219; discussion 219-20. doi:10.1227/00006123-199402000-00002