Talking to children about cancer can be daunting, but you are not alone. Cancer Council can provide information and support, and can point you in the right direction for specialised assistance. This section explains when to seek professional help for a child and lists many support organisations. It includes books to read and a glossary to help you explain cancer to younger and older children
Learn more about:
- Getting support
- When to seek professional support for your child
- Health professionals who can help
- Practical and financial help
- Support services
- Online cancer information
- Books about cancer
Getting support
Many professionals and organisations can help you communicate with your children throughout the cancer experience. You don’t need to have a specific problem to contact these services. You can ask for support even before sharing the news with your children.
When to seek professional support for your child
Children and teenagers react to a cancer diagnosis in their family in a range of ways. It’s hard to know when professional support may be needed, but you may consider it if your child:
- has a change in their usual behaviour (e.g. aggressive or regressive behaviour) that is ongoing
- is showing less mature ways of coping, such as regularly wetting the bed
- is refusing to go to school – they may have separation anxiety and think they need to stay home to look after their parent
- has a persistent change in eating habits
- shows noticeable concentration challenges (falling grades at school)
- is spending more time online
- is having trouble sleeping
- talks about wanting to die or is extremely preoccupied with dying
- acts sad and withdrawn
- demonstrates severe behaviour, such as self-harm, alcohol or drug use
- is withdrawing from friends.
For children who have autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or other additional needs, you may need to seek professional help sooner.
Why it helps to involve the school
Teachers and other school staff can be among the first people to notice that something is worrying a young person. Because they see children every weekday, they may see a change in behaviour, concentration levels, marks, eating habits and socialising with peers.
This is one of the reasons it may be a good idea to let the school know what is going on at home and to ask them to contact you if they have any concerns about how your child is coping.
Health professionals who can help
If you are concerned about your child, you could see:
| Your GP and other specialists | may be able to talk to your children, or help you decide whether to consult a psychologist. |
| Nurses | may be the most regular contact you have with the treatment centre and are a source of information and support. |
| Social workers | often part of the cancer care team, can link you with support services and help with emotional, practical or financial issues. |
| School counsellors | are trained in child development and can be a useful source of support and ideas. |
| Psychologists and counsellors | can help you with communication and behavioural issues (visit Australian Psychological Society and scroll down to “Find a Psychologist”). |
| Psychiatrists | will see children with more serious issues (you will need a referral from a GP). |
Practical and financial help
A cancer diagnosis can affect every aspect of your life, and it often creates practical and financial issues.
There are many sources of support and information to help you, your family and carers navigate all stages of the cancer experience. These include:
- information about cancer and its treatment
- access to benefits and programs to help cover the cost of cancer treatment, such as assistance in paying for prescription medicines, transport and utility services
- drafting of wills or basic legal advice
- home care services, such as Meals on Wheels, visiting nurses and home help
- aids and appliances to make life easier at home
- support groups and programs, and counselling services.
The availability of services may vary depending on where you live, and some services will be free but others might have a cost. For more information, you can talk to the social worker or nurse at your hospital or treatment centre.
You can also contact Cancer Council on 13 11 20 or see Cancer and your finances and Cancer, work and you.
→ READ MORE: Support and information resources
More resources
Joanna Fardell, Senior Research Fellow and Deputy Director, The Behavioural Sciences Unit, School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Medicine, UNSW, NSW; Dr Diana Adams, Medical Oncologist, Macarthur Cancer Therapy Centre and GenesisCare Campbelltown, NSW; Emma Bowne, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council SA; Ken Colbert, Consumer; Cara Dahl, Team Leader – Online Support, Cancer Hub, and ACA Registered Counsellor, NSW; Elizabeth Egan, Clinical Nurse Consultant – Oncology, St John of God Subiaco Hospital, WA; Dr Maria Ftanou, Director, Psychosocial Oncology Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC; Nat Fuss, Senior Clinician, Canteen, SA; Helena Hobson, Senior Social Worker, Cancer Centre, Fiona Stanley Hospital and South Metropolitan Health Service, WA; Nadine Macbeth, Social Work Team Leader, Cancer and Chronic Care, Westmead Hospital, NSW; Damian Ragusa, General Manager – Services and Programs, Camp Quality; The Team at Redkite; Alexandra Wright, Consumer.
We would also like to thank the health professionals, consumers, organisations and editorial teams who have worked on previous editions of this title, and we are grateful to the parents and young people whose real-life stories have added to the richness and relevance of this booklet.
We also thank and acknowledge Dr Paula K Rauch, American Cancer Society, Macmillan Cancer Support, Jessica Watt and Diane McGeachy for permission to use their work as source material.
View the Cancer Council NSW editorial policy.
