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

Abstract

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