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Coping with Cancer
Initial diagnosis
Parents awaiting confirmation of whether or not their child has cancer may experience
intense fear, confusion and disbelief about what is happening to them and their child.
Even though they may suspect what the outcome of the diagnostic tests will be, the
diagnosis confirming these fears comes as a major shock. Many parents describe feeling
absolutely shattered, bewildered and unable to believe what has happened. The team on the
Unit are aware of the feelings parents experience and recognise these feelings as normal.
It is acknowledged that having a child/teenager with a serious disease like cancer is one
of the most devastating events families will ever experience.
Parents may also feel totally helpless in a situation they neither brought about nor can change. It is not unusual to experience physical symptoms as a result of the stress.
Initial explanations of your child's disease and the treatment will be given by your doctor. However, parents may feel lost and unable to take in some of the information given. This initial confusion is common and very normal and hence it is important that this information about your child's diagnosis, treatment and prognosis is repeated numerous times. Parents should not feel embarrassed or should not hesitate to ask for further explanations as this is a time when important decisions need to be made and when a good understanding is vital.
The discussions with your doctor during the diagnosis stage usually addresses the following questions/issues:
1. What the diagnosis of your child is and what
this means?
2. How did your child develop cancer?
3. Could the cancer have been prevented if diagnosed earlier?
4. Is cancer hereditary?
5. How long has your child had cancer?
6. How prevalent is cancer in children?
7. What is the treatment for the particular disease diagnosed?
8. How long is the treatment for?
9. What happens after treatment finishes?
10. Are there any side effects of the treatment?
11. The treatment protocol.
12. How/who to contact at the hospital in the event of an emergency?
13. What will/could happen to your child?
14. Precautions to take when your child is on treatment.
15. Things to look out for.
16. If you feel you do not have a good understanding do not hesitate to keep asking
questions until it becomes clearer to you.
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