Summary: Supporting Families Facing Pediatric Cancer

Supporting Families Facing Pediatric Cancer In 2015 alone, 10,000 children from infancy to age fourteen will be diagnosed with some form of cancer, and 1,000 of those children will die of the disease (“Pediatric”). The chance of survival and remission grows steadily, but this does not make the time of diagnosis and treatment any easier for the immediate family of the patient. Family members, mainly parents, have reported distress, depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress among other psychological problems, and many family members feel helpless or shed the responsibility upon themselves. Families often struggle to get by financially as well. Support programs are available for families in need, but they tend to be few and far between, …show more content…
Currently, experimentation with psychological interventions is common, and the results are positive. Research shows promise in the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral intervention for both singular family members as well as the family as a whole, including teaching siblings effective coping mechanisms, developing social skills, group emotional and behavioral therapies, and improving overall family functioning via family therapy (Toro). On top of these resources, support from family, friends, classmates, schools, and the hospital predict better judgement and levels of coping …show more content…
Three of the most common and difficult emotional stages to get through are depression and sadness, anger, and fear. To get through depression and sadness, a few coping mechanisms include expressing feelings however one can, asking for support, using the support available in the hospital, seeking spiritual support, and remembering to take care of one’s own needs throughout treatment (“Children”). Finding a private place to let the anger go, talking to other parents who have felt anger at the time of diagnosis, finding solutions to the problem at hand, understanding the anger one feels, accepting that anger is normal and coming to understand the root of it, realizing that no one is to blame, and expressing it in healthy ways are a few ways for parents to cope with anger (“Children”). Finally, there is fear. Getting information that is accurate, developing trusting relationships with members of the treatment team and discussing the fear and other emotions with them, using and learning anxiety-reducing strategies, listening to how others have coped, finding strength in religious faith, taking control of as many everyday events and decisions as possible, and realizing that not all things can be controlled are a few of the methods taught to family members to cope with