Cancer in Our Family: Helping Children Cope with a Parent's Illness

Winner: 2014 Benjamin Franklin Award, Silver, Parenting and Family Issues; 2013 All-Media Contest, Bronze, Book; Finalist: 2014 National Indie Excellent Award; 2013 USA Best Book Award, Health - Cancer ——— A parent's cancer diagnosis can be extremely stressful for children, whether they're toddlers or teenagers, and this helpful, calming guide teaches parents how to talk to children and help allay their fears. With expert advice on the latest psychosocial approaches to helping children cope, this guide helps parents teach children about the diagosis, treatment, potential recurrences of the illness, and terminal illness. It offers a chapter on understanding psychosocial support services and how to use them. An illustrated activity section is also included and helps even the youngest children record their thoughts and feelings so they can learn how to navigate through this emotional time.

Sue P. Heiney, PhD, RN, is a professor with the University of South Carolina College of Nursing. She has worked with adults and children with cancer and their families for the past 25 years and is a coauthor of The Gift: For Children Who Are Bone Marrow Donors. She lives in Columbia, South Carolina. Joan F. Hermann, MSW, LSW, is the former director of social work services at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia. She has served on the editorial boards of the Cancer Practice, the Journal of Psychosocial Oncology, and Oncology Times. She lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.