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When a parent is diagnosed with cancer, the effects ripple through the entire family, leaving a profound psychological impact on children. Understanding how children emotionally and socially respond to this life-altering event is crucial for providing the right support.
Receiving a cancer diagnosis is a transformative and challenging experience for any parent, but its emotional weight often affects children the most. Children may experience a range of emotions, including:
It’s essential to use age-appropriate language and be honest about the situation to help children process these emotions effectively. You can also explore strategies for fostering hope and positivity in kids during this challenging time.
Children's responses to a parent's cancer diagnosis vary with their developmental stage:
Toddlers and preschoolers often respond with regressive behaviors like bedwetting or clinginess and may become more irritable as they sense changes in their environment. Their understanding of illness is limited, and they focus on immediate disruptions, requiring reassurance and routine to feel secure.
Young children may display anxiety, clinginess, or confusion about their parent's illness. With a concrete way of thinking, they often struggle to comprehend cancer’s seriousness, focusing instead on visible changes at home. Using simple, age-appropriate explanations helps them process their emotions.
School-age children begin to understand the complexity of cancer but may not fully grasp its implications. They may experience sadness, worry, or academic challenges, such as difficulty concentrating, while managing their growing awareness of the situation.
Teenagers and adolescents often experience heightened stress and anxiety due to their clearer understanding of cancer's severity. This can lead to mood swings, withdrawal, risk-taking behaviors, or physical symptoms like fatigue, requiring tailored support and open communication.
The American Cancer Society (cancer.org) emphasizes the importance of keeping a routine to provide security and normalcy. This helps children across all age groups feel safer and supported.
The emotional, psychological, and social reactions to having a parent with cancer may increase levels of stress and anxiety, mood changes, and self-esteem issues. Children often internalize their stress, which can manifest as physical symptoms like fatigue, loss of appetite, or trouble sleeping. Older children face heightened risks due to their cognitive and emotional development, making targeted support crucial.
Children often suppress their emotions to avoid adding to their parents' stress. Maintaining open lines of communication is vital. Older children might ask detailed questions, while younger children may need simpler explanations. Kesem encourages families to seek professional support, for example, exploring the resources for finding support for children the Penn Medicine Abramson Cancer Center offers, to address their unique emotional needs.
Kesem programs create safe spaces for children to share their experiences with peers who understand their struggles. Through year-round services, including the Camp Kesem summer camp program, children can connect with others, building friendships and resilience in a compassionate environment.
Seeking professional help tailored to children’s needs can provide tools to process emotions healthily. This includes therapy sessions and group counseling programs that focus on the psychological impact of having a parent with cancer.
Involving children in care within appropriate limits can help them feel more in control and connected.
Over 5 million children in the U.S. are coping with the psychological impact of having a parent with cancer. Kesem provides critical resources, such as:
Kesem ensures that children are never alone on their journey. Families benefit from community-driven initiatives that sustain Kesem’s mission.
Kesem provides life-changing experiences for children dealing with a parent who has cancer. We offer year-round services, our Camp Kesem summer camp program, and family resources to help children cope, build resilience, and create new friendships.
Your generosity allows us to offer all services free of charge, ensuring that any child impacted by a parent’s cancer can begin to heal, regardless of their financial situation.
There are so many ways to give. Donations help Kesem change lives! You can support Kesem by:
With your support, Kesem can bring joy, hope, and healing to children and families who need it most.
We're excited to launch a permanent collection of stories for our community to share.
