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 oncology certified 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.