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Questions Children Ask ......
Children are naturally curious about their disease and have many questions about cancer and cancer treatment. Your child will expect you to have answers to most questions.
Children may begin to ask questions right after diagnosis or may wait until
later. Here are some common questions and some ideas to help you answer them.
Why Me?
A child, like an adult, wonders "Why did I get cancer?" A child may
feel that it is his or her fault, that somehow he or she caused the illness.
Make it clear that not even the doctors know exactly what caused the cancer.
Neither you, your child, nor his or her brothers or sisters did, said, or thought
anything that caused the cancer. Stress also that cancer is not contagious, and
your child did not "catch" it from someone else.
Can I still hug and kiss my Mom and Dad?
Yes! You can't give your cancer to your Mom or Dad, and a big hung will help
you feel better.
Will I Get Well?
Children often know about family members or friends who died of cancer. As a
result, many children are afraid to ask if they will get well because they fear
that the answer will be "no." Thus, you might tell your child that
cancer is a serious disease, but that treatment - such as medicine, radiation,
or an operation - has helped get rid of cancer in other children, and the doctors
and nurses are trying their best to cure your child's cancer, too. Knowing that
caring people - such as family, doctors, nurses, counselors, and others - surround
your child and your family may also help him or her feel more secure.
What Will Happen to Me?
When your child is first diagnosed with cancer, many new and scary things will
happen. While at the doctor's office, hospital, or clinic, your child may see
or play with other children with cancer who may not be feeling well, have lost
their hair, or have had limbs removed because of cancer. Your child may wonder, "Will
these things happen to me?" Yet, your child may be too afraid to ask questions.
It is important to try to get your child to talk about these concerns. Explain
ahead of time about the cancer, treatment, and possible side effects. Discuss
what the doctor will do to help if side effects occur. You can also explain that
there are many different types of cancer and that even when two children have
the same cancer, what happens to one child will not always happen to the other.
Children should be told about any changes in their treatment schedule or in the
type of treatment they receive. This information helps them prepare for visits
to the doctor or hospital. You may want to help your child keep a calendar that
shows the days for doctor visits, treatments, or tests. Do not tell younger children
about upcoming treatments far ahead of time if it makes them nervous.
Will my hair fall out or will I loose my hair?
Sometimes chemotherapy, which is a medicine you will probably be given, will
cause your hair to fall our. But, when your treatment is over your hair will
grow back.
What is chemotherapy?
That's a big question but the simple answer is chemotherapy is the use of different
medicines to treat your cancer.
Why Do I Have to Take Medicine When I Feel Okay?
With cancer, your child may feel fine much of the time but need to take medicine
often. Children do not understand why they have to take medicine when they feel
well. You may want to remind your child of the reason for taking the medicine
in the first place. For example, a child could be told: "Although you are
feeling well, the bad cells are hiding. You must take the medicine for a while
longer to find the bad cells and stop them from coming back."
See Also Questions Adults Ask
Edited by: Kevin Hart MA
NOTE: This web site is designed for educational purposes only and is not engaged in rendering medical advice. The information provided through this site should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or a disease. If you have or suspect you may have a health problem, you should consult your health care provider