Parental adjustment to the completion of their child's cancer treatment

Abstract

Childhood cancer treatment completion is a significant milestone. However, coming off treatment may be a time of psychological vulnerability for parents. This review assesses published research (1979-2009) on the psychosocial impact of treatment completion on parents. Fifteen articles met all inclusion criteria and demonstrated that while they celebrate treatment completion, parents (particularly mothers) can experience significant distress, including fear of recurrence, fatigue, and loneliness. Distress appears to ease with time, possibly as the perceived risk of relapse declines. Continued psychosocial support specifically targeting parents' risk perceptions, physical and emotional fatigue, social isolation, and parenting concerns post-treatment is warranted.

Perceptions of support among Swedish parents of children after end of successful cancer treatment: a prospective, longitudinal study

“…The current study illustrates that shortly after end of treatment, the corresponding proportions are comparable as need for support from psychologists was reported by 43% of mothers and 35% of fathers and need for support from social workers by 73% of mothers and 66% of fathers. Previous reports have proposed that the time following a child's cancer treatment completion is a vulnerable period for parents [1,3], which is supported by the findings of this study.…”

“…It has been proposed that parental distress abates over time [1]. However, in a previous report from this project we showed that PTSS in parents of children diagnosed with cancer is stable from three months after end of treatment up to five years after end of treatment [2].…”

“…The challenge includes receiving the diagnosis, seeing the child suffer from treatments and side effects and dealing with the risk of losing the child. Successful treatment completion is often a celebrated milestone for the entire family, yet many challenges remain thereafter [1]. The time after end of treatment is a vulnerable period for parents [2], characterized by significant distress, including fear of recurrence, fatigue and loneliness [1].…”

“…Successful treatment completion is often a celebrated milestone for the entire family, yet many challenges remain thereafter [1]. The time after end of treatment is a vulnerable period for parents [2], characterized by significant distress, including fear of recurrence, fatigue and loneliness [1]. The period between active treatment and long-term survivorship deserves increased research and attention.…”

“…Social support has a positive impact on mothers' psychosocial adjustment and coping [10] and fathers' dissatisfaction with support during and after a child's cancer treatment increases the risk for emotional distress [11]. Parents of children diagnosed with cancer report a decreasing level of support from the time of treatment into survivorship [12] and marital strains, loneliness and social isolation have been described by parents years after end of treatment [1,13].…”