Talking to Your Children about Cancer

You just left your doctor’s office after hearing the three most frightening words that you could ever hear in a lifetime: “You have cancer.” Cancer? Not me, I have three little ones who need me. Telling your child that you have cancer is probably the hardest conversation that you will ever have as a parent. You are their protector from all things—including the possibility that you might become very sick and might not always be there to watch them grow. Before you tell your child that you have cancer, seek out Anton Bilchik MD to find out as much information about your type of cancer, treatment and prognosis.

Now that you have met with an expert and gathered information about your diagnosis, it is time to look at an important concept that will assist you in your discussion with your child. You will want to focus on making the news as easy to accept as possible, and there are some relatively easy ways to do this if you are prepared.

Your children have most likely heard the term cancer, either on television or on the radio, but they won’t always know exactly what cancer is and how it affects the body. They may have heard about classmates who have lost parents to cancer, which can make this conversation even more difficult. Try to explain the physical process of how cancer develops, using the appropriate terms for each child’s age. If your children ask questions you don’t have the answers to, be sure to ask Anton Bilchik MD. He has years of experience treating cancer and helping their families cope with the diagnosis of cancer. He is also one of the leading providers of cancer information in person and on social media.