12-year old with Possible Cancer...advice!?!
Question: My 12-year old might have cancer. While waiting for the MRI and the rest of the results to come in, what advice do you have in helping her and her brother understand what can, will and may happen if the results are not good!?
Thank you.
Answers: My 12-year old might have cancer. While waiting for the MRI and the rest of the results to come in, what advice do you have in helping her and her brother understand what can, will and may happen if the results are not good!?
Thank you.
I have a 3 year old who was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia at age 5 months. She is almost 4 now. I also have an older daughter who was 13 at the time of her little sister's diagnosis. My advice is that even though this is a very scary time for you and your family, there are many resources available in the hospital to help children and siblings cope with this situation. Our doctors gave us a book that was about leukemia and it was full of information that I found very helpful. Also, I believe medicine and cancer treatment has come a long way over the last 10 years. There are lots of children that we met during our hospital stay that have all had great outcomes.
Another great way of communicating and keeping friends and family updated is a website called caringbridge.org. You can enter as many journal entries as you want and friends and family can access it and read about how your child is doing and they can sign a guestbook. This is a great way to keep everyone informed without talking about everything. Also your 12 year old can communicate with his friends through this site.
I hope this helps. I will keep you in my prayers.
If she doesn't, then I believe it is best to recognise how lucky she is not to have it.
If so, it's a road that is very difficult to bear. For most cancers, prognosis is very good for a 12-year old. The body is made up of cells, hers are dividing too fast.
It's very unlucky and it is not her fault. Listen to physicians, some of them went in for the right reasons. But no one can feel the pain like a parent, I suppose.
Good luck.
I pray she doesn't. I just finished chemo/radiation and surgery and I can tell you it's not fun but it is manageable. Tell her that if she is sick you will all (family/friends) help her to get through it and get well. Tell her you know it's scarey but there are people all over the world going through what she will be probably even some she has met and didn't even know they ever had it. Keep positive. If you are religious pray with her for the Lord to be with her and keep her strong. Good Luck and I hope you don't have to go through it.
The hospitals will often give information to the parents for them to give to the siblings about their child having cancer. If they are not immediately offered to you, you should ask a social worker for them. They help really well with younger children
Right now you have the "what ifs" not a cancer diagnosis. You can die a thousand times unnecessarily from the "what ifs". Do not trouble your children with cancer issues before you know there is really something to be concerned about.
Should your child be diagnosed with cancer you can contact other parents going through the same thing for their advice here. In the meantime you might join one of the available groups and read through their Archives for ideas.
parents of children with cancer lists
http://www.acor.org/mailing.html?sid=17
Kids are pretty smart and understand more than most adults give them credit for. Explain things simply and they will understand the seriousness of the situation by watching the cues you give off with your actions and behavior.
good luck