Psychological Support for Pediatric Cancer Patients and Their Parents
Dealing with childhood cancer brings a range of emotional and social challenges for both the young patients and their families. You may experience:
- Difficulty coping with the reality of your child having cancer
- Feeling isolated from family and friends
- Struggles in family dynamics and teamwork
- Challenges in decision-making
- Concerns about your child not being able to engage in activities they enjoy
- Issues related to balancing work and caregiving responsibilities
- Financial worries
- Stress over making care-related choices
- Difficulty expressing your feelings
- Changes in your child's body image and self-esteem
- Grief
- Fear of cancer recurrence
- Fear of death and dying
- Concerns about providing good care for your child with cancer
Some parents and children may also experience specific mood changes such as anxiety, depression, and distress.
If you need help, there are expert teams ready to support you and your family. It's completely normal to seek extra assistance when facing cancer. Research shows that families dealing with pediatric cancer who receive social and resource support often report a better quality of life. However, many who could benefit from these services don't use them because they are unaware of their availability or don't know how to access them.
Types of Psychosocial Support
Psychosocial support can encompass various services, including:
- Talking with a trained professional about your worries and concerns.
- Learning about the condition and how to manage it.
- Connecting with your spiritual beliefs for comfort.
- Sharing experiences and coping strategies with others in similar situations.
These services are offered by psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, psychiatric clinical nurse specialists, nurse practitioners, licensed counselors, or pastoral counselors. They can help you address your issues and refer you to additional support as needed.
Understanding Your Needs
Reflect on the problems you're experiencing, understand how much your emotions are affecting you, and how you've coped with crisis in the past. This self-awareness can guide you in choosing the most helpful services. Additionally, talk to your cancer care team about any psychosocial problems you're having so they can assist you in finding the right support.