Abstract
When a child is diagnosed with cancer, life as the family once knew it ceases to exist. Families are faced with their greatest fear. Childhood cancer is a family disease that impacts the psychological, social, and emotional health of the entire family system. Providing psychosocial care for the child and the family throughout the cancer trajectory, from the time of diagnosis through survivorship or end-of-life care, is vital to achieving optimal health and wellness. This chapter highlights the importance of psychosocial care, discusses the role and strategies of patient advocacy with the impact parents can have on the effectiveness of medical care, and reviews the national project that is underway to develop and implement standards of psychosocial care for childhood cancer. The perspective of parents and psycho-oncology professionals is incorporated in this chapter, and together they give voice to Mattie’s courageous battle against osteosarcoma.
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