More information from your American Cancer Society
We have selected some related information that may also be helpful to you. These materials may be ordered from our toll-free number, 1-800-227-2345.
After Diagnosis: A Guide for Patients and Families (also available in Spanish)
A Message of Hope: Coping with Cancer in Everyday Life (also available in Spanish)
Anxiety, Fear, and Depression (also available in Spanish)
It Helps to Have Friends When Mom or Dad Has Cancer (booklet for elementary school children)
Helping Children When a Family Member Has Cancer: Dealing With Diagnosis (also available in Spanish)
Helping Children When a Family Member Has Cancer: Dealing With Treatment (also available in Spanish)
Helping Children When a Family Member Has Cancer: Dealing With Recurrence or Progressive Illness
Helping Children When a Family Member Has Cancer: Dealing With a Parent's Terminal Illness
Helping Children When a Family Member Has Cancer: When a Child Has Lost a Parent
Books from your American Cancer Society
The following books are available from the American Cancer Society. Call us to ask about costs or to place your order. The books for children are intended to be read to and discussed with the younger children in the age range.
Cancer in the Family: Helping Children Cope With a Parent's Illness (for adults)
Because…Someone I Love Has Cancer: Kids' Activity Book. (best for ages 5 to 10)
Let My Colors Out (best for ages 4 to 8)
Nana, What's Cancer (ages 5 to 12)
Mom and the Polka-Dot Boo-Boo (about breast cancer, best for ages 2 to 5)
Our Mom Has Cancer (best for ages 5 to 12)
Our Dad is Getting Better (best for ages 5 to 12)
Our Mom is Getting Better (best for ages 5 to 12)
Couples Confronting Cancer: Keeping Your Relationship Strong (for adults)
Caregiving: A Step-By-Step Resource for Caring for the Person With Cancer at Home (for adults)
National organizations and Web sites*
For adults with cancer
National Cancer Institute
Toll-free number: 1-800-422-6237 (1-800-4-CANCER)
Web site: www.cancer.gov
Offers reliable information on cancer and its treatment, and dealing with cancer
Planet Cancer
Web site: www.planetcancer.org
An online community of young adults (age 18-40) with cancer who share their information and thoughts of the cancer experience
Cancer Hope Network
Toll-free number 1-877-467-3638
Web site: www.cancerhopenetwork.org
Matches adult cancer patients with trained volunteers who have undergone and recovered from a similar cancer experience. Free, confidential, one-on-one telephone support provided by volunteers. Support for family members is also available
CancerCare
Toll-free number: 1-800-813-4673
Web site: www.cancercare.org
Telephone and online support groups are offered for anyone with cancer or affected by cancer, including family members and caregivers
LIVESTRONG (formerly Lance Armstrong Foundation)
Toll-free number: 1-866-673-7205
Web site: www.livestrong.org
Provides information on cancer; also offers SurvivorCare, a one-on-one support program through which cancer survivors can get counseling and referrals to local resources, address financial, insurance and job issues
For children and teens who have a parent with cancer
Cancer Really Sucks
Web site: www.cancerreallysucks.org
An internet-only resource designed for teens by teens who have loved ones facing cancer
Cancercare for Kids
Toll-free number: 1-800-813-4673
Web site: www.cancercareforkids.org
Online support program is offered for teens with a parent, sibling, or other family member who has cancer. The toll-free number is also for anyone who has cancer or who has a loved one with cancer.
Kids Konnected
Toll-free number: 1-800-899-2866 (If you get voicemail, leave message to get a call back.)
Web site: www.kidskonnected.org
For children and teens who have a parent with cancer and for those who have lost a parent to cancer
Kidscope
Telephone: 404-892-1437 (voicemail is only checked once per week)
Web site: www.kidscope.org
Has special online materials, a comic book for children about chemotherapy (Kemo Shark) and a video for kids about a mom with breast cancer
National Cancer Institute
Toll-free number: 1-800-422-6237
Web site: www.cancer.gov
To learn more about cancer, or to get special information for teens; you can call to order a special booklet for teens whose parents have cancer or read it online at: www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/when-your-parent-has-cancer-guide-for-teens
The Dougy Center
Toll-free number: 1-866-775-5683
Web site: www.dougy.org
Information on grieving children, teens, and adults. Referrals to programs across the country and internationally that serve grieving children, teens, and their families
Other publications*
Books for adults
Can I Still Kiss You? Answering Your Children's Questions About Cancer by Neil Russell. Published by HCI, 2001
Helping Your Children Cope With Your Cancer: A Guide for Parents by Peter Van Dernoot and Madelyn Case. Published by Hatherleigh Press, 2002
How to Help Children Through a Parent's Serious Illness by Kathleen McCue and Ron Bonn. Published by St. Martin's Press, 1996
Life and Loss: A Guide to Help Grieving Children by Linda Goldman. Published by Taylor and Francis Group, 2nd Edition, 1999
When a Parent Has Cancer: A Guide to Caring for Your Children by Wendy S. Harpham. Published by HarperCollins, Publishers, 2001
Books for and other publications for children and teens
Although these books are intended for children, younger kids are helped more when an adult reads with and helps the child reflect about what different parts of the book mean to the child.
Becky and the Worry Cup, by Wendy Harpham. Published by HarperCollins, 1997. Best for ages 5 to 10. (Sold with When a Parent Has Cancer, by the same author.)
Facing change: Coming Together & Falling Apart in the Teen Years. Compassion Press, 2004. Best for teens.
Fire in My Heart: Ice in My Veins by Enid Samuel-Traisman 2003. Published by Centering Corporation. Best for teens.
I know I Made It Happen by Lynn Bennett Blackburn. 2003. Published by Centering Corporation. Best for ages 6 to 12.
In Mommy's Garden: A Book to Help Explain Cancer to Young Children by Neyal J. Ammary. Published by Canyon Beach Visual Communications, 2004. Best for very young children. Also available in Spanish. (This book may be hard to find but is available from some online sources.)
Lost and Found: A Kid's Book for Living Through Loss by Marc Gellman and Debbie Tilley. Published by HarperCollins, 1999. Best for ages 9 to 12.
My Mommy Has Cancer by Carolyn S. Parkinson. Published by Solace Publishers, 1991. Best for ages 4 to 7.
Sammy's Mommy Has Cancer (Books to Help Children) by Sherry Kohlenberg, Published by Gareth Stevens Publishers, 1994. Best for ages 4 to 7.
The Paper Chain by Claire Blake, Eliza Blanchard, and Kathy Parkinson. Published by Health Press, 1998. Best for ages 4 to 9.
The Year My Mother Was Bald by Ann Speltz and Kate Sternberg. Published by American Psychological Association, 2002. Best for ages 9 to 12.
Tickles Tabitha's Cancer-Tankerous Mommy by Amelia Frahm. Published by Hutchinson, Nutcracker Publishing Company, 2001. Best for ages 4 to 7.
Vanishing Cookies: Doing OK When a Parent Has Cancer by Michelle B. Goodman. Published by Michelle B. Goodman, 1991. Best for ages 9 to 12. (Check libraries and treatment center reading rooms; it can be hard to find a copy for sale.)
Videos for children and adults
We Can Cope: Helping Parents Help Children When a Parent Has Cancer. DVD has sections for teens, younger children, and parents, as well as a guidebook on how to use it. Check your cancer treatment center library or call Inflexxion at 1-800-848-3895, extension 276 (try extension 201 if no response from 276) to find out how to buy it. (Cost is $99.95 so you may want to try to borrow it or buy a used copy.)
Kids Tell Kids What it's Like When Their Mother or Father Has Cancer. Children talk about coping with their parents' cancer; best watched as a family, to help kids and parents talk about cancer's effects in their lives. Check your cancer center treatment library or buy DVD from www.cancervive.org(cost: $40.00 new).
No matter who you are, we can help. Contact us anytime, day or night, for information and support. Call us at 1-800-227-2345 or visit www.cancer.org.
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