How to Cope When Your Child is Diagnosed with Cancer
As a
parent, watching your child become ill with anything is hard. You feel helpless
and would do anything to take away their pain. So, what do you do when your
child is diagnosed with what every parent fears most: cancer? Nobody is ever
going to dispute it, it is going to be hard, really hard. But with support
along the way, understanding the conditions and treatments, coping with the
diagnosis and dealing with financial issues can get a little easier. You will
never be alone; there are healthcare professionals, charities and groups out
there for anything you need.
Understand the Diagnosis
To ever
come to terms with your child’s diagnosis, you need to understand what they
have. This includes what the cancer is, what it will do, and how it can be
treated. There is lots of information around but the best people to talk to are
the doctors and healthcare professionals around you; no question is too small
or too big. Remember, everybody is different. One child’s treatment isn’t
necessarily how your child’s treatment will occur and statistics are based on a
large number of children, so it is best not to focus on them.
You will
feel every emotion you can possibly think of during your child’s journey
through cancer. When being informed of a diagnosis you may feel shocked,
scared, angry, and even guilty. All of these may affect you physically and
mentally such as loss of appetite, lack of sleep, and anxiety. Every parent
will deal with their emotions in their own way. You may need to talk about it
while other parents cope better thinking it through on their own. Respect each
other’s decisions and remember there are is help out
there where you can talk to other parents
going through the exact same things that you are. Do not feel guilty, there is
nothing you could or couldn’t do to stop your child’s diagnosis of cancer - it
is caused by a DNA change in the cells and you are not to blame.
There is no right or wrong way to deal with your child being
diagnosed with cancer. You may wish to speak to somebody one-to-one, or a group
setting where you can listen to others may be more suited to you. There are
plenty of kids cancer research charities that provide information
and support for parents. They do great work for families with children that
have been diagnosed with cancer. There are specialist nurses that deal with
different pediatric cancers who will be able to answer any and every question
you have and will help you deal with every up and down you may face.
The most
important thing to remember is you are not alone. Often, children tend to be
stronger than us and deal with their emotions in different ways. Don’t be
afraid to ask questions and talk to anybody you need to, and remember family
and friends are there for you too.
