To learn more
More information from your American Cancer Society
We have a lot more information that you might find helpful. Explore www.cancer.org or call our National Cancer Information Center toll-free number, 1-800-227-2345. We’re here to help you any time, day or night.
Your American Cancer Society also has books that you might find helpful. Call us at 1-800-227-2345 or visit our bookstore online at www.cancer.org/bookstore to find out about costs or to place an order.
National organizations and websites*
Cancer Really Sucks
Website: www.cancerreallysucks.org
A monitored, online resource designed for teens by teens who have loved ones facing cancer
CancerCare
Phone number: 212-712-8848
Website: www.cancercare.org
Offers “Pillow Talk,” a care package to help families better communicate with each other and feel more comfortable talking about cancer.
KIDSCOPE, Inc.
Website: www.kidscope.org
Has online materials to help children cope with the diagnosis and treatment of a parent with cancer, including a virtual comic book for children about chemotherapy (Kemo Shark) and a video for kids about a mom with breast cancer
Kids Konnected
Toll-free number: 1-800-899-2866 (If you get voicemail, leave message to get a call back)
Website: www.kidskonnected.org
A support network for children and teens who have a parent with cancer and for those who have lost a parent to cancer
Children’s Treehouse Foundation
Website: www.childrenstreehousefdn.org
Website includes resources and locations of support programs for children whose parents have cancer.
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Toll-free number: 1-800-422-6237
TTY: 1-800-332-8615
Website: 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
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.
Helping Children When a Family Member Has Cancer: Dealing With Recurrence or Progressive Illness
- How can I help anyone else when I’m so upset about the cancer coming back?
- How should I talk about cancer recurrence with my children and help them cope with it?
- What is a child’s greatest worry if a parent’s illness progresses?
- What about the “why” questions?
- How might my advancing cancer affect my child’s spirituality or religious faith?
- How do children react to the thought of a parent’s death?
- Isn’t having a positive attitude important in fighting the cancer?
- How can I help my child when I have so little energy?
- How will I know if my children need extra help?
- Will this experience leave my children with emotional scars?
- To learn more
- References
The American Cancer Society medical and editorial content team
Our team is made up of doctors and master's-prepared nurses with deep knowledge of cancer care as well as journalists, editors, and translators with extensive experience in medical writing.
Last Medical Review: December 5, 2014 Last Revised: December 12, 2014
American Cancer Society medical information is copyrighted material. For reprint requests, please see our Content Usage Policy.