Difficulties experienced by parents of children with cancer: A literature review

Abstract

Relevance: Children with cancer experience certain difficulties and needs associated with pain, nutrition, weakness, infection,
 and hyperthermia. All these needs require satisfaction and support both from medical staff and the children’s families. One of the
 most difficult aspects of being parents of a child diagnosed with cancer is to balance normal family life with the sick child’s needs and
 treatment requirements. Cancer is a serious disease that creates many stress factors for family members. Families mostly feel that
 everything has changed in their lives with the cancer diagnosis and have to make many adjustments, including financial spendings.
 Treatments, hospital visits, and hospitalizations suddenly invade their normal family life. A shock after diagnosis, painful therapy, an
 associated disruption of family and social development, and a constant uncertainty of relapse affect not only the sick child but also
 his/her family members.
 The article aimed to describe the needs and difficulties of parents of a child with cancer.
 Results: Data analysis revealed four main areas where the parents of children with cancer experience difficulties: 1. changes in
 the daily life of families caring for children with cancer, 2. financial challenges, 3. lack of knowledge, 4. pain management, and 5.
 psychological health.
 Conclusion: Serious disease in a child possesses challenges for his/her parents due to the changes in families’ daily lives. These
 parents need additional knowledge of care, psychosocial support, especially when making decisions they have to make, such as terminating cancer treatment, giving consent to refuse resuscitation or life support.

Needs and Difficulties of Parents with Children Suffering from Malignant Diseases

“…Malignant diseases are one of the leading causes of death in children in highly developed countries, although improved therapy for children with cancer has led to a significant increase in survival rates (2). The resulting stress of the parents of a child with malignant disease is extremely high and significantly affects the quality of life of the whole family (3,4). previous research has shown a variety of parental reactions, and higher levels of anxiety than in the patients themselves (5).…”