Experiences of mothers in five countries whose child died of cancer

Abstract

Although increasing attention is being focused on the emotional aspects of caring for dying children and their families, few research reports concentrate on the experiences of mothers, particularly in different countries. This article describes the findings of an exploratory, descriptive study that investigated the experiences of mothers from five different countries who each had a child die from cancer in the past 6 months. Principal investigators, members of the International Work Group on Death, Dying, and Bereavement, conducted semistructured interviews with 21 mothers in their own countries. No culturally related differences were noted among mothers, and the mothers' recall of their experiences are more similar than different. All mothers, irrespective of country, described similar reactions to the diagnosis, management of the end-stage illness, and challenge of coping with bereavement. Lessons learned from this project provide suggestions for future research across countries.

Comparison of Continuing Bonds Reported by Parents and Siblings After a Child's Death from Cancer

“…This is consistent with literature that has associated bonds with positive and negative results for the bereaved (e.g., Boelen, Stroebe, Schut, & Zijerveld, 2006; Davies et al, 1998; Field & Friedrichs, 2004; Field, Nichols, Holen, & Horowitz, 1999; Gamino et al, 2000; Meert et al, 2005; Neimeyer, Baldwin, & Gillies, 2006; Ronen et al, 2009). It is important to point out that mothers reported more comforting effects from continuing bonds than siblings.…”

Cancer-Related Symptoms Most Concerning to Parents During the Last Week and Last Day of Their Child's Life

“…16 Others have reported that the presence of severe symptoms dictates the location of death, because parents who had wanted their child to die at home will admit their child to the hospital to have better symptom control strategies available. 6,17,18 Our lack of finding such differences in concerning symptoms by diagnosis or location of death may be a factor of our sample size. Analysis of location of death, diagnosis, and most concerning symptoms does merit additional study with a larger group of patients.…”

Cultural Influences in Pediatric Cancer

“…In one of the only cross-cultural comparison study, comparing mothers from Canada, Norway, Greece, Hong Kong, and the United States, few differences were found with regard to interpersonal relationship styles or practices done before or after the death of the child (Davies et al, 1998).…”