Many people with cancer have pain during or after treatment. However, your health care team can help you manage nearly all cancer-related pain.

Cancer treatment can affect a person’s skin, hair, and nails. Often, skin problems from cancer treatment are not severe, but they can be uncomfortable and noticeable. Some people may struggle with the visible changes or symptoms caused by a skin condition.

Skin conditions may get better over time, but some may not go away. There are options for managing most skin conditions caused by cancer treatment. Relieving side effects such as skin conditions is an important part of cancer care and treatment. This is called palliative care or supportive care.

Hand-foot syndrome is also called palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia. It is a side effect of some cancer treatments. Hand-foot syndrome causes redness, swelling, and pain on the palms of the hands and/or the soles of the feet. Sometimes blisters appear. Hand-foot syndrome sometimes happens elsewhere on the skin, such as the knees or elbows. But this is less common.

Some symptoms of cancer treatment make it difficult to eat certain foods. These may include:

• Pain in the mouth

• Stiffness or pain in the jaw muscles

• Problems with the teeth

Work with your health care team to manage difficulty chewing. Otherwise, you may avoid certain foods or eat smaller portions. This can keep you from getting enough calories and nutrients.

Difficulty swallowing is called dysphagia. It means having trouble passing food or liquid down the throat. Some people may gag, cough, or choke when trying to swallow. Others may feel like food is stuck in their throat.

Causes of swallowing problems

One cause is cancer, especially in the mouth, throat, or esophagus. Cancer growing in these parts of the body may narrow these passages.

Difficulty swallowing also happens after some cancer treatments:

• Radiation therapy

• Surgery

• Chemotherapy, less commonly

It can help caregivers and loved ones to know what to expect when a person nears the end of their life. There are common signs and symptoms that show that a person is entering the final weeks and days of life. When you know what to expect, it can help relieve anxiety and uncertainty, as well as help you plan for what your loved one needs during this time.

Nerves are bundles of fibers in the body that help you sense, feel, and move. The nervous system is the name of the network that the nerves form.

There are 2 parts to the nervous system: the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system. The central nervous system is made up of the brain and spinal cord, a thick cord of nerves inside the spine. All other nerves in the body are a part of the peripheral nervous system. Peripheral nerves send information between your brain and your body.

Your child will likely have many medical tests and procedures. These help doctors learn more about your child's cancer and guide treatment decisions.

It is common for both children and parents to feel anxiety about tests and procedures. But with preparation, you can lower anxiety for you and your child.

Common fears

Children's fears may depend on their age and personality:

Infants and younger children. Often, they fear being separated from their parents.

Older children. Often, they fear pain.

Surgery is a common treatment for cancer. Like all cancer treatments, surgery has benefits, risks, and side effects. The types and severity of side effects vary from person to person based on several factors:

• Location and type of cancer

• Type of surgery

• Other treatments received before surgery, such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy

• Your general health

• The symptoms you had before surgery