Pain Management and Children When a child has cancer or another pain-causing disease, one of his or her greatest fears is pain. Every effort should be made to ease the pain during the treatment process. Chemotherapy for Children Chemotherapy is one of the most common treatments for cancer. In most cases, it works by interfering with cancer cells' ability to grow or reproduce. Managing Alopecia in Children Hair loss is a common side effect of most forms of chemotherapy. Younger children may not be bothered by hair loss, but the school-aged child or teenager may be devastated. Managing Mucositis in Children Mucositis can be a very troublesome and painful side effect of chemotherapy. Common symptoms include diarrhea and abdominal cramping or tenderness. Managing Bone Marrow Suppression in Children Nearly all chemotherapy drugs affect the number of blood cells in the body. When the number drops, the risk for anemia, fatigue, infection, and bleeding increases. Nutritional Requirements for a Child With Cancer Good nutrition is vital for children being treated for cancer, yet these young patients often have poor appetites.