The
Ependymoma Essentials video series is specifically designed for families in the early stage of diagnosis and treatment of children with ependymoma. This project aims to create educational videos that communicate reliable and trustworthy information in collaboration with leaders in the ependymoma community. The second episode focuses on discussion about radiation therapy for pediatric ependymoma.
Key takeaways from this episode include:
- A discussion about the risks and benefits of any radiation plan should be part of your consultation
- Techniques have improved over the years and science has revealed more understanding of how to best - and more precisely - use radiation therapy
- Every situation is unique, so it's important to talk with a pediatric radiation oncologist about your child's specific case
- Standard practice is to start radiation 4-6 weeks after surgery is complete, but it may be safe to wait up to 9 weeks if the child needs more time to recover from surgery
- It is okay to uphold your usual parental boundaries with your child even when they are going through treatment