Reactions and emotions to childhood cancer

Common reactions to a cancer diagnosis in a child

A cancer diagnosis can come as a huge shock to everyone in the family. The child, along with everyone around them, will be trying to deal with their own feelings. These can include shock, fear, anger, sadness, and disbelief.

The effects of a child's cancer often extend to the wider community of schoolteachers, classmates, neighbours, and other people in contact with the child and their family. Everyone involved needs appropriate information to support them through this difficult time.

13 11 20 is our free, confidential telephone information and support service run by Cancer Councils in each state and territory. Please call 13 11 20 to talk to specially trained staff, who are available to answer your questions about cancer and offer emotional or practical support.

A child's feelings and reactions

No matter what age a child is, a cancer diagnosis will have a significant effect. A child's age, level of development, and personality will influence their reactions. However, most children will feel a mix of being anxious, scared, confused, angry or upset at some stage during their illness.

For most children with cancer, life changes dramatically. Having tests, going to doctor's appointments, and treatment will become part of daily life. They will have a lot to cope with, and it is important they have people close by to support them.

Although children can show a surprising natural resilience during serious illness, a child's specific needs—such as maintaining normal routines and providing boundaries, comfort, and love—are very important to help support this resilience.

For most children, their parent(s) are the main source of support. A parent will be more aware than anyone else of how the child copes with unfamiliar situations - what makes them fearful, sad, or happy, and how to get their child to relax during particularly challenging times.

Below, we outline some common reactions of children with cancer, by age. However, every child is unique and will react and cope in their own way.

Babies and infants (0-5 years)

Young children at this age worry about the ‘here and now’. Their main concern will usually be about being away from parents. They may also be confused and upset about not being able to play and have as much fun as usual.

Very young children and babies may:

Become very fearful of being separated from their parents – clinging more than usual
Cry, yell, scream and shout more than usual
Become uncooperative during tests and treatment
Become angry and upset because their usual daily routine of eating, play, and intimacy with parents has changed
Have changes to their sleeping patterns (difficulty getting to sleep or staying asleep)
Regress in independence, maturity, or toileting habits
Become withdrawn and not wanting to take part in things they used to enjoy

Primary school age children (5-12 years)

Children in this age group have gained some independence, making them more aware of what is going on. Though some reactions will be similar to an infant, they may also:

Need more emotional support than usual from their close family and friends
Miss the interaction with school mates and other friends
Feel uneasy and frustrated with the disruption to schoolwork and after school activities
Display bouts of anger and sadness about their illness and how it is causing loss of school and play time
Withdraw from friends and reject schoolwork as a way of protecting themselves from the disappointment of what has happened

Adolescents and young adults (15-25 years)

A cancer diagnosis during these years will have a different impact on a young person, compared to a child or older adult. These years are times of emerging independence physically, psychologically, and socially.

For adolescents and young adults, a cancer diagnosis and its treatment can mean navigating through a range of complex emotions resulting from the stressors that cancer brings.

For some, a first reaction could be to push family away as they try to cope with things alone. However, others may be drawn closer to their parents and siblings, relying on them more than ever.

Possible reactions from teenagers can include:

Being angry and anxious about their body not working as it used to
Becoming withdrawn and very low in mood (depressed)
Pretending things are okay, and making a joke of their cancer and its treatment as a distraction
Rebelling against parents, teachers and medical staff, which might make treatment and care more difficult
Seeking support from people who are outside the immediate family (e.g. friends, teachers, etc.) more than usual
Feeling embarrassed and upset about what has happened to them - especially if treatment has caused side effects which affect the way they look and act (hair loss, mobility problems or weight loss)

Particular struggles that adolescents and young adults may experience include:

Loss of independence
Changes to intimate, peer, and family relationships
Altered physical function, fitness, self-esteem, and body image
Questions about fertility
Disruption to schooling and education
Employment challenges and workplace rights
Financial and practical concerns

More information

You can download a PDF of Children with Cancer: A Guide for Parents from the National Cancer Institute.

For different youth cancer services, you can visit the:

Victorian Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Service from Peter Macmillan Cancer Centre
Youth Cancer Services from Canteen

Family reactions

Siblings’ feelings and reactions

Brothers and sisters of a child with cancer have their own fears. Hospital visits and seeing their sibling upset, in pain, or acting differently, can all be very frightening and distressing to a child.

These children may feel they have lost the close and fun relationship with their brother or sister. Feeling alone and lost is not uncommon.

Siblings may have feelings of anger and jealousy towards the sibling with cancer due to the extra attention they may receive. Sadness, guilt (feeling that they were the cause of their sibling’s cancer), and anxiety are other common feelings of siblings. They may also:

Feel shock and confusion about their sibling's illness
Worry about what is expected and how to cope
Pretend they are okay so as not to upset their parents even more
Resent the changes their sibling's illness has brought to their own life
Get lower marks than usual at school
Exhibit behavioural changes, such as fighting with friends, family and teachers

Parents’ feelings and reactions

Understandably, most parents who are told their child has cancer feel completely devastated. At first, it can be difficult to come to terms with and try to understand how this will impact the whole family. There may be moments when people feel numb and don't believe what is happening. Painful emotions of anger, sadness, guilt, fear and denial are all common and normal feelings of parents who have been told their child has cancer.

It may be reassuring to know that most parents get through these initial reactions and emotions by focusing on what needs to be done to help support their child and family through this time. Parents play a huge role in how a child copes. A calm, loving, present, and reassuring parent can help the child to cope with the treatment.

There is no right or wrong way to feel. Most parents find their emotions go up and down over the course of their child's treatment. Some days they may feel they are coping; other days they may feel completely lost or out of control.

Whilst no one can fully prepare a parent to cope with their child having cancer, we hope the following tips will help:

Find out all you can about childhood cancer, treatment and care
Ask your doctors where to get information online. Some websites are not trustworthy and provide misleading information which can be dangerous and upsetting. For further guidance, download the UK Children's Cancer and Leukaemia Groups (CCLG) leaflet, Searching for information and support online
You don’t have to cope alone. Doctors, nurses, and hospital staff will want to help you. Talk to them, let them know how you feel, and ask for help when you need it.
Ask close family and friends for help with home duties (cooking, washing, cleaning, shopping) and caring for any other children. They may need guidance as to what to do. Don't be afraid to tell them!
Look after yourself. Most parents find this the hardest thing to do, as they focus completely on their sick child's needs, but it is important to take time out for yourself and not feel guilty for doing this.
Try to talk about your feelings with those you trust. Most people say that when they share their sadness, anger or fear it helps. If you feel you may need some professional counselling, ask your GP or the hospital social worker for a referral.
Set up a group chat, email or blog for people who want to know how things are going or delegate a close friend or family member to give information to the rest of your friendship and family groups. It can be overwhelming to try and inform everyone all the time about what is happening to your child. Be careful about the information you post about your child, they might not want private information in the public arena.
Take time out to spend with your partner, family and friends. Having a child with cancer can put a lot of strain on your close relationships. It is important to maintain communication both through talking and physical intimacy where possible.
Ask for information and support from the many organisations that help children with cancer and their families.

Other close relatives and friends’ reactions

Grandparents, aunts, uncles or other close family relatives and friends often have similar feelings to those of the parents of the child with cancer. They may find it difficult to cope with how they feel.

Being given accurate and up-to-date information will help all these people too, so sharing resources is helpful.

Grandparents of a child with cancer have not only the concern for their grandchild but also for their own child. Sometimes, this ‘double hurt’ may not be understood or realised by others.

Grandparents who are close to their family may find their role in the family changes when a grandchild gets cancer. They can be left feeling quite lost and upset. It is important to try and make them feel part of what is going on if you can. Allow them to take part in the child's hospital visits and care if possible—this can benefit everyone.

More information

You can use our Cancer Connect service to talk to another parent who knows what it's like to have a child with cancer.

For further information and support:

Siblings Australia provides support to siblings of children and adults with chronic conditions, including cancer.
Canteen Online has been developed by Canteen, the Australian Organisation for Young People Living with Cancer. It has been developed by a team of people including Canteen staff and young people whose lives have been affected by cancer.
Victorian Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Service provided by the Peter Macmillan Cancer Centre in Victoria
Victoria's Paediatric Integrated Cancer Service (PICS)

Talking to children about their cancer

It is only natural to want to protect a child and their siblings from a cancer diagnosis. However, for most children, the regular hospital visits and tests, missing school, and other activities will alert them to the fact that something is wrong.

Most children also pick up on their parents’ feelings. Their reaction to upsetting news often depends on how their parents are coping.

We recommend being open and honest with young people about a cancer diagnosis. Reliable, age-appropriate information can help them understand and cope with changes. However, an honest discussion can be tremendously difficult for a parent, particularly when trying to cope with the diagnosis yourself.

If possible, both parents should talk to the child. This way, they can support each other.

It is important not to overload children with information. Throughout the conversation, clarify that the child understands what is being said. Be sure that all significant people in the child's life know what has been said. Keep things consistent and honest. It is important not to promise a child anything that adults cannot be sure of.

Letting children know how adults are feeling can allow them to express their own feelings more easily. Reassure children that whatever they are feeling is normal and that they will be supported throughout.

Helping your children cope

Often parents worry they might not be able to cope with their emotions during their child's cancer diagnosis and treatment. However, most parents gain strength far beyond what they thought they had, and this enables them to care for their sick child and any other children.

Parents can support their child by:

Controlling when and how they express their feelings. Try not to frighten the child with outbursts of strong emotions.
Focusing on moving forward, finishing treatment and getting back to a more normal life.
Including other close family and friends in the child's care. The child may benefit from having someone different by their side from time to time.
Getting help from the child's medical team (doctors, nurses, social workers, chaplains, schoolteachers, and more). They can help parents understand that many of their emotions are normal and manageable.
Empowering children with knowledge about cancer and its treatment. Age-appropriate information can help lessen fears, and this allows children to take more control over their situation. This is especially true for older children.
Seeking support from children's cancer organisations

Recognising when your child needs extra help

Most children with cancer and their siblings go through a range of emotions. They usually manage to find a way to cope, however, there may be times when they need extra support.

Children of all ages will usually look to their parents for extra support, but there may be times when they are too anxious or overwhelmed to know how to ask for it. Parents need to be able to recognise the signs if their child has a more serious problem and needs to talk to a health professional.

A child usually needs extra help and support if they:

Feel sad all the time and cry a lot
Cannot concentrate
Cannot be comforted or reassured
Show less interest in their schoolwork, hobbies and friendships
Have severe mood swings
Often feel irritable, upset and angry
Talk about hurting themselves or thinking of suicide
Have a change in behaviour or behave differently than usual
Have weight loss/gain/appetite changes not related to the cancer and its treatment
Suffer low energy/fatigue not related to the cancer and its treatment
Have trouble sleeping that goes on for more than a week or two