Learning that your child is diagnosed with childhood cancer is one of the most devastating moments in a parent’s life. Justifiably, the whole family can’t help but feel very scared and hopeless, because the sickness can separate you from your child. And as hard as it is, as a parent, you need to be strong for your child. You and your partner need to take care of your precious little one, and be his pillar of strength and hope as he goes through his journey with cancer.
Here are some ways as to how families can take care and be there for a child with a dreaded childhood cancer such as Osteosarcoma. As defined by Sarcoma Initiative, Osteosarcoma is a type of bone cancer that produces immature bones. It happens when new bones form cancerous tumors.
Encourage Your Child to Talk About What He Feels
Learning about cancer at a very tender age is all too much to take in. Just like you, your child could feel very shocked with the prognosis, and may understandably get angry and bitter, or most likely scared.
Let him feel all those emotions and encourage him to communicate all of it with you. Let him cry, scream, and talk about it endlessly. Show your emotional support by creating a safe and open space to talk about anything. By doing this, you can help him release all of his emotions and slowly accept and become hopeful for his case.
Help Your Child Maintain His Regular Routine
Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and other required medical procedures at the hospital may take too much time away from your child. Such activities may also drain almost all of his energy, leaving him lethargic enough to just not want to go outside.
One thing that you can do to support your child is to be there for him for all the things that he needs and wants to do. Create a daily schedule for him – one that could allow him enjoy all his hobbies while he’s busy at the hospital. Does he like to read? Is he into sports, or does he enjoy spending time at a park to paint? Whatever it is, help him accomplish all those things and have fun, so he could have a lot of things to look forward to.
Read Books & Watch Movies
Spending time for entertainment can help your family relax, and get the pressing issue off your mind for a while. There are a lot of children’s books that can help your kid cope, such as the following:
- How Do You Care for a Very Sick Bear?
- Cancer Hates Kisses
- You Are the Best Medicine
- Our Dad is Getting Better: When Treatment Ends, Healing Begins
Additionally, there are quite a handful of inspiring, heartfelt movies that your whole family can enjoy, too:
- Clouds (2020)
- My Sister’s Keeper (2009)
- The Fault In Our Stars (2014)
- The Bucket List (2007)
- Harry Potter
Let Your Child Stay Connected With His Friends
The sickness can make a child feel lonely and disconnected from the outside world, so it is very important that you encourage him to spend time with his friends. What does your kid love to do with his friends? Are there any restaurants that they frequently go to or games that they usually play?
Invite his friends over to your home if it’s already safe to do so, or treat them to dinner every now and then. If your area still has a rising number of COVID-19 cases, you can host a dinner party via Zoom and even a virtual movie night!
Explain your child’s situation to his friends and let them show their support to cheer your child up. This could really boost your child’s confidence and optimism, knowing that he has a solid support system rallying behind him.
Participate in Local Childhood Cancer Groups
Did you know that there are tons of childhood cancer groups that offer support, counseling, and fun group activities? You and your family can participate in those, too! This could help your family meet other families who are going through the same situation. Plus, this could help your child earn new friends who he can relate too!
Consult your GP and ask your hospital if they have any recommendations for local support groups. Take a look at their activities with your child, and see if there’s anything that clicks with him.
Although such activities may be purely online right now due to the pandemic, it would still be a great idea to virtually meet like-minded individuals and families!
Sources: Cancer Index Org, Pediatric Oncology Resource Center, Sarcoma Help Org , Cancer.Net, American Cancer Society
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