The Complexity of Cancer in Multiple Family Members: Dynamics of Social Work Collaboration

Abstract

This article presents a case study of one family affected by a cancer diagnosis in both the father and the daughter, who were diagnosed within the same time interval and who underwent treatment at the same time. The article examines the relationship between the caregivers and the oncology patient as well as with one another when the stress of diagnosis is compounded by multiple, simultaneous, and similar diagnoses in a highly condensed period of time. A thorough examination of the literature reveals that there are significant gaps regarding how multiple cancer diagnoses in one family affect the family dynamic, individual and collective coping styles, and caregiver burden. The diagnoses can also dramatically exacerbate economic stressors in a family. The coordination of psychosocial care from the perspectives of the adult and pediatric oncology social workers at an urban academic medical center will be discussed. The social work role, importance of collaboration, and family centered care perspective will be discussed as a method of easing the treatment experience for families in psychosocial distress.

Qualitative exploration of family caregivers' perception and experience caring for pediatric patients with cancer

“…[14,15,24,31] Parents are forced to spend many hours with their sick child away from home and work, resulting in challenges to family functioning, usual routine, finance, and family well-being. [32][33][34] As in our study, previous studies have shown a disconnect between those caring for children with cancer and the health care providers resulting in a sense of powerless and a loss of control in family caregivers who did not view their interactions with health care providers as collaborative. [15,23,35,36] Parents, especially mothers, who are often at the forefront of caring for an ill child yearn for their voices to be heard regarding the care of their children [37][38][39] and desire for partnership with health care providers in this all too important care.…”

“…[14,15,24,31] Parents are forced to spend many hours with their sick child away from home and work, resulting in challenges to family functioning, usual routine, finance, and family well-being. [32–34]…”

When lightning strikes twice: Perceptions of oncology social workers about working with families with two members in treatment

“…This exploratory study is the first to be published, in addition to the one case report, 14 on families with a parent and child concurrently in cancer treatment. Enrolling the family members in future research, including the ill parent and child when possible, as well as the healthy parent, siblings, and other close members of their support network, is important to understanding the burdens and any positive aspects of this experience.…”

“…While there are no prior studies of families with a parent and child concurrently receiving cancer treatment, with the exception of one case study, 14 the impact of having either a child, 1,3–6 sibling, 7,8 or a parent 9,10 with cancer is well‐documented. The findings reported here are consistent with these studies, and also suggest that the negative effects are compounded when two family members are concurrently receiving cancer treatment.…”

“…5,[11][12][13] The needs of families with two members concurrently receiving cancer treatment are not adequately known. The only published research is a single case study by Snow and Gilbertson, 14 leaving a void for guiding healthcare providers working with these families. They described a family whose daughter had Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and a father concurrently diagnosed with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia.…”