Supportive care of the paediatric cancer patient

Cytotoxic therapy for paediatric malignancy continues to be associated with significant mortality and morbidity. However, survival figures continue to improve despite increasingly toxic treatment protocols. Aggressive supportive care, more than any other modality, has produced a dramatic reduction in mortality during the past 30 years, and includes the appropriate management of infection, provision of adequate nutrition, and proper use of blood and blood products. The paediatric surgeon plays an integral role in the multidisciplinary team of cancer management and together with other team specialists is responsible for the planning of surgical intervention and also ensuring the safe passage of immunologically impaired patients through the additional stress of surgery. This paper details essential aspects of supportive care as commonly practiced in paediatric patients undergoing therapy and surgery.