Andrew’s brother Joe was diagnosed with leukemia. After two relapses, Joe’s doctors offered a new treatment option: an infusion of Andrew’s stem cells. Andrew writes about the pressure that comes with potentially being his brother’s cure – and the fear that he may not be.  I was 16 when my father brought me downstairs to explain why my brother and mother were not at the …

When a loved one is going through cancer treatment, the holidays look a little different. Maybe you have always hosted Thanksgiving dinner, but this year you’ve been overwhelmed helping your child through treatment. Perhaps your friends meet up to take their kids ice skating on New Year’s Day, but your child’s treatment has left them too weak to go this year. During a time of traditions, it can be difficult to “celebrate as usual” while balancing the health needs of your child. Children’s Cancer Research Fund teamed up with Momcology to ask cancer caregivers what advice they have for navigating the holidays during treatment.

When a child is diagnosed with cancer, the balloons, presents and cards go to them, leaving their siblings with many conflicting emotions and a lot less time with their parents. In dealing with this new change, siblings can feel a wide range of emotions and not necessarily know how to handle them.

Every cancer parent remembers the moment they received the lifechanging news: “Your child has cancer.” But after that critical moment, no childhood cancer story is the same. We’ve gathered a list of some of the ways the childhood cancer experience can differ – due to age, race, family support, socioeconomic status and more. There is truly no “typical” childhood cancer experience, but the more we …

Childhood cancer leaves a lasting impact on children and families. Even after treatment ends, long-term effects of cancer treatment may pose challenges for survivors. Children and young adults, along with their families, may experience significant changes to their lifestyle. Instead of this being a time to go back to life as it used to be, it may be a time of continued adjustment, as you …

When I blew out my candles on my sixth birthday, my only wish was that I had cancer.   I was 6, so obviously I did not comprehend the extent of what I was wishing for, but at the time it was the thing I wanted the most.   Four years earlier, my younger brother Connor was diagnosed with cancer. At that exact moment, everything became about …

When a child is diagnosed with cancer, there are things that cancer parents and caregivers have to let go of, just to make it through. Maybe it was the expectation of a clean house, or having a plan for how the day was going to go. There are things that, when faced with something as daunting as cancer, just don’t seem to matter much anymore.   …

From cancer screening to diagnosis and treatment, the journey of childhood cancer can be very difficult. By its very nature, the relationship between patient and physician can be deeply personal. Sometimes, the same doctor who gave your family the life-altering diagnosis is your child’s doctor throughout treatment, and may even be there to celebrate when treatment is finally over. A great way to express gratitude …

When a child returns to school once treatment is finished, adjusting back to a “normal” routine can be difficult for both the family and school. You may be feeling both joyful and anxious. Your child may still be healing, both emotionally and physically. And your family may be facing new challenges. Some children get back into school routines quickly, while others may need more time …

Cancer and other health-related information, whether online or in print, should come from a trusted, credible source. Unfortunately, some websites and print media provide misleading or false information. We know how tempting it can be to fall down a Google rabbit hole, especially when a diagnosis is new and you want to know what you and your child are in for during treatment. It’s not …

Do you ever have flashbacks of remembering how you felt during the first few weeks, even the first months after hearing the words, “your child has cancer”? I do. It is fresh in my mind how bewildered I felt and how alarmed I was by each side-effect that my daughter experienced. I wondered with despair, ‘Is this just our life now?’ ‘Is this our new daughter?’

When a child is diagnosed with cancer, the whole family faces challenges they never knew existed – but they also find love and strength they didn’t know they had. Here, parents share how they have experienced and offered love throughout their child’s cancer journey.   Showing Love Through Family and Community Support A child’s cancer diagnosis sends a ripple effect through everyone who loves them …

Cancer support groups are meetings for people with cancer and anyone touched by the disease. Even though many cancer patients receive support from friends and family members throughout their journey, joining a cancer support group can be very beneficial. The number one reason people join is to be with others who have similar cancer experiences.   Types of Support Groups  Some support groups focus on all …

As a cancer caregiver, you spent many hours supporting and caring for your loved one while they went through treatment. Now that your chapter of caregiving has ended and treatment is finished, you may feel uncertain about what to do next. Here are some tips that may help you during this transition time:

Another Childhood Cancer Awareness Month has come and gone. They are a messy thing, awareness months.  On one hand they are a time and place to educate others around a cause, a cause that is important to you. A time set aside to lay all you know out into the world around the thing that has impacted your life in unimaginable ways. You feel empowered, full of passion and ready to share. …