Explaining a Cancer Diagnosis to Your Child

If your child has just been diagnosed with cancer, there is an overwhelming list of things to consider and accomplish. From scheduling treatments to changing many aspects of your everyday life, the road ahead will be challenging and difficult.

However, one of the first and most important things that you will have to do is explain to your child that they are sick. Providing your child with trust and reassurance can be difficult, especially if you are seeking some reassurance of your own as a parent.

Here are some things you can remember when explaining a cancer diagnosis to your child:

• If your child is older and has already heard of cancer and formed his own thoughts on the condition, you will need to find a balance between being delicate and being honest. Be open and gentle, but avoid protecting your child from the truth about their diagnosis unless he is too young to understand. It’s important for your child to feel like...READ MORE