Developmental Strategies for Counseling the Child Whose Parent or Sibling Has Cancer

Johnson, Laurie

doi:10.1002/j.1556-6676.1997.tb02357.x

Cited by 14 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…It is pertinent that cancer care providers work hand in hand with pediatric counselors to help to identify proper coping mechanisms to lessen the distress associated with cancer diagnoses in both patients and their children. 26 This study also provides compelling insights into the expectations of Asian patients of their health care providers during the breaking of news on their cancer diagnosis. A previous study conducted in rural Malaysia found that while patients with cancer perceived their physician's ability in breaking bad news favorably, issues such as body language and identifying the patient's key areas of concern needed improvement.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

Breaking News of Cancer Diagnosis: A Qualitative Study on the Experiences and Emotional Needs of Patients With Cancer in a Multiethnic Asian Setting

Wong

Kong

Bhoo-Pathy

et al. 2021

JCO Oncology Practice

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PURPOSE: The breaking of news of a cancer diagnosis is an important milestone in a patient’s cancer journey. We explored the emotional experiences of patients with cancer during the breaking of news of a cancer diagnosis and the arising needs in a multiethnic Asian setting with limited supportive cancer care services. METHODS: Twenty focus group discussions were conducted with 102 Asian patients with cancer from diverse sociodemographic backgrounds. Thematic analysis was performed. RESULTS: While most participants, especially younger patients with young children, experienced intense emotional distress upon receiving a cancer diagnosis, those with a family history of cancer were relatively calm and resigned. Nonetheless, the prior negative experience with cancer in the family made affected participants with a family history less eager to seek cancer treatment and less hopeful for a cure. Although a majority viewed the presence of family members during the breaking of bad news as important, a minority opted to face it alone to lessen the emotional impact on their family members. Difficulties disclosing the news of a cancer diagnosis to loved ones also emerged as an important need. Sensitive and empathetic patient-physician communication during the breaking of news of a cancer diagnosis was stressed as paramount. CONCLUSION: A patient-centered communication approach needs to be developed to reduce the emotional distress to patients and their families after the breaking of bad news of a cancer diagnosis. This is expected to positively affect the patients’ subsequent coping skills and attitudes toward cancer, which may improve adherence to cancer therapy.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

Breaking News of Cancer Diagnosis: A Qualitative Study on the Experiences and Emotional Needs of Patients With Cancer in a Multiethnic Asian Setting

Wong

Kong

Bhoo-Pathy

et al. 2021

JCO Oncology Practice

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“…However, children of patients with cancer frequently change roles within their family as well, absorbing more responsibility while one parent cares for the ill parent (4, 16). The literature shows that both children and adolescents have increased personal responsibilities, resulting in a decrease in social activity and subsequent loss of childhood at a time when peer groups are essential for social development (4,10,14,17). Adolescent truancy rates increase and overall attendance decreases as they need to care for their younger siblings or pick-up extra work shifts to help combat the financial burden cancer puts on a household (11, 13).…”

Section: Role Changesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The disruption of schedules and daily routine, shifting of household roles, financial stress, and the physical and emotional availability of either parent all contribute to these emotional and behavioral problems (7)(8)(9). These problems, if overlooked or untreated, can persist into adulthood (10).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of Parental Cancer on Children

2017

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Abstract. Background It is estimated that 10.4% of newly diagnosed cancer patients are between the ages of 18-55, with 22.4% of all cancer cases occurring in individuals aged 21-55 (1). This range represents common childbearing and child-rearing ages which suggest a significant portion of these patients may have minor children. In fact, in 2010 it was estimated that 2.85 million children under the age of 18 lived with a parent who was diagnosed with cancer in the US (2). Over the last 30 years, overall cancer survival rates have increased with the 5-year survival rate rising 20% across all races (3). The increasing survival rates suggest a concomitant increase in prevalence of cancer survivors with minor children.A cancer diagnosis can affect the whole family, not just the afflicted parent (4, 5). Multiple studies demonstrate that children in particular have a higher risk of emotional and behavioral problems (6, 7). The disruption of schedules and daily routine, shifting of household roles, financial stress, and the physical and emotional availability of either parent all contribute to these emotional and behavioral problems (7-9). These problems, if overlooked or untreated, can persist into adulthood (10). Daily RoutineA daily routine is an important part of life for preschoolers, grade-schoolers, and adolescents for both structural stability and social behavior guidance (7, 11). A parental cancer diagnosis can disrupt the daily routine or schedule due to frequent clinic visits, unexpected hospital admission, and the home turning into a place of care (9, 12, 13). The disruptions also promote problems sleeping in preschoolers and increased post-traumatic stress symptoms as well as internalizing and externalizing behaviors in adolescents (6,7,14). Adolescents also report the impact that physical unavailability has on their emotional well being including the ill parent no longer driving them to school, to extracurricular activities, or even packing lunches (12, 15). Role ChangesIt has long been known that parental roles change as one parent becomes a caregiver and the ill parent becomes less available physically and emotionally, having fewer opportunities to interact while placing increased demands on their children (12). However, children of patients with cancer frequently change roles within their family as well, absorbing more responsibility while one parent cares for the ill parent (4, 16). The literature shows that both children and adolescents have increased personal responsibilities, resulting in a decrease in social activity and subsequent loss of childhood at a time when peer groups are essential for social development (4,10,14,17). Adolescent truancy rates increase and overall attendance decreases as they need to care for their younger siblings or pick-up extra work shifts to help combat the financial burden cancer puts on a household (11, 13). 4025

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“…They often "find their lives are constantly interrupted by medical emergencies that trump well kid cares like birthday parties and soccer games" (Green 2010). These challenges include the shift in parental attention toward the sick child (Johnson 1997), the complication of the sibling relationship and rivalry (Fleitas 2000), and potentially even a period of separation from one or both parents and the sick sibling (Jaworski 1999). As a result of these household changes, siblings may face a relationship based more on caregiving than mutual companionship (Taylor et al 2008).…”

Section: Childhood Chronic Illness and Familiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Siblings and Illness

Vanderwerp¹

2011

VURJ

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Using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth-Mother and Child samples, I investigated the relationships among child and adolescent depressive symptoms, having a chronically ill sibling, and other child and familial demographic variables. From research on social support and social role transitions, with the stress process as a theoretical model, I hypothesized that children with chronically ill siblings experience more depressive symptoms. Specifically, I looked at age, gender, birth order and family size as potentially reducing the effect size of having a chronically ill sibling. Findings showed that having a chronically ill sibling is associated with demonstrating more depressive symptoms both in the bivariate and multivariate analyses. Although age, gender, birth order and family size do not interact significantly with having a chronically ill sibling in predicting depressive symptoms, they do present interesting findings about childhood depressive symptoms in general. Thus, the results of this study suggest specific and meaningful paths for future research.

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Developmental Strategies for Counseling the Child Whose Parent or Sibling Has Cancer

Cited by 14 publications

References 31 publications

Breaking News of Cancer Diagnosis: A Qualitative Study on the Experiences and Emotional Needs of Patients With Cancer in a Multiethnic Asian Setting

Breaking News of Cancer Diagnosis: A Qualitative Study on the Experiences and Emotional Needs of Patients With Cancer in a Multiethnic Asian Setting

Impact of Parental Cancer on Children

Siblings and Illness

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