Advice Archives - Children's Cancer Research Fund https://childrenscancer.org/category/advice/ Children's Cancer Research Fund invests in lifesaving, leading-edge research in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and cure of childhood cancers and blood-related disorders. Fri, 24 Apr 2026 17:04:41 +0000 en-US hourly 1 How to navigate the holidays during cancer treatment https://childrenscancer.org/how-to-navigate-the-holidays-during-cancer-treatment/ Tue, 22 Nov 2022 21:19:33 +0000 https://childrenscancer.org/?p=12115 When a loved one is going through cancer treatment, the holidays look a little different. Maybe you have always hosted Thanksgiving dinner, but this year you’ve been overwhelmed helping your child through treatment. Perhaps your friends meet up to take their kids ice skating on New Year’s Day, but your child’s treatment has left them too weak to go this year. During a time of traditions, it can be difficult to “celebrate as usual” while balancing the health needs of your child. Children’s Cancer Research Fund teamed up with Momcology to ask cancer caregivers what advice they have for navigating the holidays during treatment.

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]]> Siblings of childhood cancer https://childrenscancer.org/siblings-of-childhood-cancer/ Fri, 16 Sep 2022 17:00:39 +0000 https://childrenscancer.org/?p=11752 When a child is diagnosed with cancer, the balloons, presents and cards go to them, leaving their siblings with many conflicting emotions and a lot less time with their parents. In dealing with this new change, siblings can feel a wide range of emotions and not necessarily know how to handle them.

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]]> When treatment is over https://childrenscancer.org/when-treatment-is-over/ Wed, 10 Aug 2022 13:20:48 +0000 https://childrenscancer.org/?p=11538 Finishing treatment isn’t the end of the road for childhood cancer families. Both physical and emotional late effects of treatment can result in a complicated array of feelings about what the future looks like for your child. In partnership with Momcology, we asked moms whose children had cancer what their experiences and feelings are now that treatment is over, what the end of treatment means ...

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]]> Caring for childhood cancer survivors after treatment https://childrenscancer.org/caring-for-childhood-cancer-survivors-after-treatment/ Tue, 24 May 2022 20:50:06 +0000 https://childrenscancer.org/?p=11023 Childhood cancer leaves a lasting impact on children and families. Even after treatment ends, long-term effects of cancer treatment may pose challenges for survivors. Children and young adults, along with their families, may experience significant changes to their lifestyle. Instead of this being a time to go back to life as it used to be, it may be a time of continued adjustment, as you ...

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]]> When cancer makes us let go https://childrenscancer.org/when-cancer-makes-us-let-go/ Tue, 17 May 2022 20:11:22 +0000 https://childrenscancer.org/?p=10944 When a child is diagnosed with cancer, there are things that cancer parents and caregivers have to let go of, just to make it through. Maybe it was the expectation of a clean house, or having a plan for how the day was going to go. There are things that, when faced with something as daunting as cancer, just don't seem to matter much anymore.   ...

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]]> For cancer families: How to thank a doctor https://childrenscancer.org/how-to-thank-a-doctor/ Mon, 09 May 2022 16:01:33 +0000 https://childrenscancer.org/?p=10881 From cancer screening to diagnosis and treatment, the journey of childhood cancer can be very difficult. By its very nature, the relationship between patient and physician can be deeply personal. Sometimes, the same doctor who gave your family the life-altering diagnosis is your child’s doctor throughout treatment, and may even be there to celebrate when treatment is finally over. A great way to express gratitude ...

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]]> How to prepare your child to return to school after treatment https://childrenscancer.org/how-to-prepare-your-child-to-return-to-school-after-treatment/ Wed, 02 Mar 2022 16:10:07 +0000 https://childrenscancer.org/?p=10384 When a child returns to school once treatment is finished, adjusting back to a “normal” routine can be difficult for both the family and school. You may be feeling both joyful and anxious. Your child may still be healing, both emotionally and physically. And your family may be facing new challenges. Some children get back into school routines quickly, while others may need more time ...

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]]> How to find reliable cancer resources https://childrenscancer.org/how-to-find-reliable-cancer-resources/ Mon, 21 Feb 2022 21:09:11 +0000 https://childrenscancer.org/?p=10351 Cancer and other health-related information, whether online or in print, should come from a trusted, credible source. Unfortunately, some websites and print media provide misleading or false information. We know how tempting it can be to fall down a Google rabbit hole, especially when a diagnosis is new and you want to know what you and your child are in for during treatment. It’s not ...

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]]> Showing love throughout the cancer journey https://childrenscancer.org/showing-love-throughout-the-cancer-journey/ Wed, 09 Feb 2022 14:46:49 +0000 https://childrenscancer.org/?p=10246 When a child is diagnosed with cancer, the whole family faces challenges they never knew existed – but they also find love and strength they didn’t know they had. Here, parents share how they have experienced and offered love throughout their child’s cancer journey.   Showing Love Through Family and Community Support A child’s cancer diagnosis sends a ripple effect through everyone who loves them ...

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]]> 5 Ways to Help a Sibling of a Cancer Patient Feel Important https://childrenscancer.org/5-ways-help-sibling-cancer-patient-feel-important/ Fri, 27 Jul 2018 16:03:36 +0000 https://childrenscancer.org/?p=3205 Being a sibling of a childhood cancer patient can be scary and confusing. Family dynamics change, schedules are unpredictable and schoolwork and activities can start to fall through the cracks. Many parents of kids facing cancer express guilt that their healthy children are unintentionally overlooked while they are forced to focus on their sick child’s immediate needs. There’s no way to consistently balance the attention ...

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]]> Finishing Treatment Didn’t Feel as Good as We Thought https://childrenscancer.org/finishing-treatment-didnt-feel-as-good-as-we-thought/ Mon, 23 Jul 2018 19:33:28 +0000 https://childrenscancer.org/?p=3186 In April 2014, doctors found a mass in Joe’s left kidney. Two months later, he was formally diagnosed with metastatic Ewing sarcoma. After he recovered from surgery to remove his kidney, we moved to chemotherapy. When chemotherapy finished, Joe had scans and we went to his appointment to discuss radiation. We were blindsided when Dr. Staddon said radiation wasn’t necessary after all. Confused, we looked ...

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]]> It’s Ok – Fearing What Comes After the Hospital https://childrenscancer.org/its-ok-fearing-what-comes-after-the-hospital/ Mon, 16 Jul 2018 21:23:39 +0000 https://childrenscancer.org/?p=3163 I never wanted to be in the hospital. Nothing about leaving my home for a week, skipping school or missing Friday night football games to have poison drip into my body was enjoyable. I spent so much time in the hospital that my floor became a home. Although I did not want to be in the hospital, each time those elevator doors opened it was ...

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]]> Dealing with ‘Scanxiety’ https://childrenscancer.org/dealing-with-scanxiety/ Mon, 16 Jul 2018 13:32:46 +0000 https://childrenscancer.org/?p=3150 Whether your child has just finished chemo or they’re a 5-year survivor, scans are always scary. The potential of cancer returning is terrifying, especially when you know how difficult and devastating treatment can be. Scan anxiety, or what has become known as “scanxiety” can be crippling, even years after the end of treatment. If you or your child is experiencing scanxiety, try out some of ...

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]]> Making vacation work for a child with cancer https://childrenscancer.org/making-vacation-work-for-a-child-with-cancer/ Thu, 05 Jul 2018 18:05:09 +0000 https://childrenscancer.org/?p=3110 Vacations can seem nearly impossible when your family is facing cancer, but sometimes a relaxing getaway is just what a family needs to wind down and heal together. Whether your trip consists of a flight across the country or just a drive across town, here are some tips on how to plan a cancer-friendly vacation. Surprise your kids. Cancelling a vacation can be extremely disappointing ...

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]]> I Went There Once https://childrenscancer.org/i-went-there-once/ Wed, 21 Feb 2018 21:16:08 +0000 https://childrenscancer.org/?p=2415 I went to that place once. For just a moment, I thought about what could have been, and I almost lost every spark of joy I had left. Despair almost won.

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]]> The Guilt That Guides Me https://childrenscancer.org/the-guilt-that-guides-me/ Tue, 05 Dec 2017 19:43:31 +0000 https://childrenscancer.org/?p=2164 Rallying families to share their children’s stories isn’t easy, because I ask them to open doors to the most intense pain. I share with them how I became involved in the world of childhood cancer. I let them know that my son survived brain cancer, even if their children haven’t survived their diagnoses. I share how they can be a catalyst to move research forward, ...

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]]> My Journey of Advocacy https://childrenscancer.org/my-journey-of-advocacy/ Mon, 08 May 2017 15:52:20 +0000 https://childrenscancer.org/?p=1471 The post My Journey of Advocacy appeared first on Children's Cancer Research Fund.

]]> “Tell me exactly how to be the friend you need.” https://childrenscancer.org/tell-me-exactly-how-to-be-the-friend-you-need/ Tue, 02 May 2017 18:30:08 +0000 https://childrenscancer.org/?p=1422 The post “Tell me exactly how to be the friend you need.” appeared first on Children's Cancer Research Fund.

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