Compliance with treatment is greatly increased when the caregiver(s) understand the treatment, the need for the treatment, and the need for strict adherence to sterile technique. When the caregiver is not ready to handle home care of the child, compliance is less than optimal and may be a threat to the child. Parenteral nutrition support can be both safe and effective in children with cancer when the family and health-care team work together. Nutrition support facilitates treatment of the whole child and can help improve his or her quality of life.

The seriously ill or terminally ill child with cancer has received inadequate pain control in the past, partly due to physicians' and nurses' fears and misconceptions regarding the administration of effective pain medications to a child. Advances in assessment techniques in the infant and young child, as well as increasing use of pain assessment questionnaires and VAS in the older child, have mandated changes in administration of analgesia to children. It is the responsibility of the health-care team of provide adequate pain control to the ill child, using knowledgeable assessment and monitoring skills. The goal of therapy for the dying child is to maintain comfort and support the child and the family. Providing analgesia in the hospital or the home has proven safe and effective when administered either orally or parenterally, and comfort of the child is achieved.