Parenting with cancer II: Parenting at different stages of illness

Abstract

In the period immediately following a new diagnosis, parents often describe being in a state of shock, similar to the aftermath of a traumatic event. This overwhelming distress may cause parents to feel that they cannot think straight, their world has turned upside down, or that their sense of time and space has been altered. During this time, caring for themselves and gathering medical information are priorities. As much as possible, steadying themselves with reminders to take one day at a time, or even one hour at a time, can be crucial. It may be important to wait until this acute period has passed and parents once again have their feet underneath them before attempting to discuss the diagnosis with their children. It can be challenging to find an appropriate balance between allowing time for some emotional stabilization, while not letting too much time go by that parents risk children picking up on cues or overhearing conversations about the illness. © 2012 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.