Cancer treatment can involve short but frequent visits to the hospital as an outpatient (day treatment) or a longer stint as an inpatient (staying one or more nights).
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Overview
A visit to hospital can seem strange and confronting for a person of any age, but children’s fears
may be worse than the reality.
Reassure them that hospitals are special places where people are given good care. Ask your kids if they want to go to the hospital or treatment centre.
Some hospitals may offer a tour for families. If children would prefer not to go, don’t insist on them visiting.
Preparing for a hospital visit
If children are keen to visit, the following tips may help prepare them.
Prepare children for a hospital visit
Before children enter the hospital room, tell them what to expect and what they may notice:
- the equipment
- different smells and noises (e.g. buzzers, beeping)
- how you may look (e.g. connected to tubes, a drip or catheter bag full of urine hanging on the side of the bed)
- doctors and nurses might keep coming in and out to check on the patients.
Help children feel more comfortable
You may be able to arrange with the nursing staff for children to look at pictures or see some of the equipment in an empty room before visiting you.
Gradually introduce kids to the hospital
If your kids are reluctant to go to the hospital, their first visit could just be to the ward lounge room. Reassure them that this is okay and that they can send a card or call, if they prefer.
Let kids set the pace
Let your kids decide how long they want to stay. A friend or relative could take them out of the
room if they feel overwhelmed.
Your kids may want to help by getting you a drink or magazine from the hospital shop. Small children tend to get bored quickly and want to leave soon after arrival.
Bring support
Have a friend or relative come along. They can take the kids out of the room if they feel overwhelmed and then take them home when they’re ready to leave.
Keep kids engaged during visits
Bring art materials, books or toys to keep them busy. Or you could simply watch TV or listen to music together.
Stay connected
If you have to travel for treatment and your children are unable to visit, use video calling on a mobile phone to communicate. Learn some tips for staying connected with your kids.
Make the hospital room feel like home
If the hospital stay will be longer, ask the kids to make the room cosy with a framed photo or artwork they’ve made.
Talk about the visit
After the visit, talk to them about how they felt and answer any questions they have.
Seek support from hospital staff
Ask the doctor to explain anything that is confusing or unclear. The nurses and social workers at
the hospital are good sources of information, as are Cancer Council’s 13 11 20 information and
support consultants.
Once you have an understanding of the treatment, you may find it easier to explain it to your kids.
→ READ MORE: Creative ways to explain cancer
Podcast: Explaining Cancer to Kids
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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.
