PARENTING THROUGH CANCER : an evidence-based guide for healthcare professionals supporting families

Experiencing a parent or guardian with cancer is extremely difficult for children and adolescents with healthcare professionals and cancer support centres often lacking the specialised knowledge needed to also support these individuals. This practical guide provides a comprehensive and current understanding of the impact of parental cancer on children, young people and families. It offers a longitudinal account of the impact of cancer through the different stages of the illness and explores the impact of culture and international contexts on how families experience parental cancer. The book also crucially focuses on how to support children, young people and families by examining existing interventions. Important chapters on death and bereavement, and on self-care for practitioners also supplement the book. A valuable handbook for healthcare practitioners from a range of specialities working with patients and families affected by cancer, including clinical psychology, counselling, nursing, oncology, palliative care and social work. "My relationship with cancer began when I was four years of age. I woke up like any other day to go to preschool. My parents weren't there, the lady that minded us was there instead and I remember asking her where my parents where, she did not say. They had to go she said. Yes, I know that much since they are not here, even at four I could certainly figure that out on my own. I cant remember my day, probably nothing else seemed unusual about it to me. My mother came to pick me up from preschool and took my sister at the same time. That was weird, my sister and I usually went to my grandmothers house after school, in the school bus"-- Provided by publisher A guidebook for healthcare practitioners to support children, young people and families facing parental cancer, through every stage of the illness. Featuring chapters on existing interventions, the impact of culture on the experience of parental cancer, and on supporting children, young people and families who experience parental death from cancer.