Objectives To explore how children of mothers newly diagnosed with breast cancer perceive their mother's illness and its initial treatment; to contrast their accounts with the mothers' perceptions of their children's knowledge. Design Qualitative interview study with thematic analysis. Setting Home based interviews with mothers and children in Oxfordshire, England. Participants 37 mothers with early breast cancer and 31 of their children aged between 6 and 18 years.

This study suggests that clinicians could improve their care of breast cancer patients by being more family-centred. Fathers routinely need more information and preparation about the likely impact of the illness and its treatment (especially side effects) on the mother, and how children of different ages may react to the emotional strain. Clinicians need to be prepared to offer to talk to teenagers.