Hearing that your child has cancer is terrifying. Today, however, most childhood blood cancer patients can expect to have full and productive lives. Thanks to new and improved therapies, survival rates for childhood blood cancer have improved significantly over the past several decades. In addition, doctors, nurses and researchers continue to search for the causes of childhood leukemia and lymphoma to develop even better treatments and tailor therapies to decrease toxic side effects. Social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists and other health professionals are also working to understand how to help children and families manage cancer and its treatment and maintain a good quality of life.

What Does Caring for a Child with Blood Cancer Look Like?

As a parent or guardian, you already provide for your child in many ways, but caring for a child with cancer brings new challenges. You will be spending a lot of time with your child at medical appointments and working closely with the members of your child’s healthcare team to ensure your child is getting the best possible care.

Depending on the treatment plan, your child may need to stay at the hospital overnight (or even for weeks) to receive treatment. You may have to deal with an emergency situation, such as a medical crisis requiring a trip to the emergency room. After your child’s cancer treatment is completed, you will need to be vigilant about follow-up care and watch for long-term and late effects of treatment. You will also have to help your child when he or she returns to school.

In addition to caring for a child who has cancer, you may have other children, as well as other family members, who need your time and support too.

Equally important, you need to look after yourself during this difficult time.

Caregiving Strategies

Sometimes you may feel overwhelmed, but the following suggestions can help you to be at your best to help your child:

• Ask for help and accept help from your co-parent, friends and family. Talk to members of your child’s healthcare team about difficulties you encounter—there may be resources available to help you. Remember, you are not alone.
• Take care you yourself. You can better care for your child if you are healthy and well.
• Learn as much as you can about caring for a child with cancer. Ask the healthcare team where you can find trusted information. You can also contact an LLS Information Specialist who can provide you with the latest, most accurate, disease-related information:
  • Call: (800) 955-4572
  • Chat live online: Live chat
    Email: Click Here

Resources for Caregivers

Worksheets and Workbook

 Download or order a copy of Caring for Kids and Adolescents with Blood Cancer: A Workbook for Families, which contains worksheets to help you stay organized, and information and resources to use throughout the caregiving journey.

Call an Information Specialist at 800.955.4572 to order a copy. 

Webcast

 Listen to webcasts that cover topics related to childhood blood cancer. 

Online Chat

 Chat with other caregivers Monday evenings from 8-10 pm ET. 

Education Videos

 Watch videos with information, resources and support grouped by topic. 

Podcast

 Listen to The Bloodline with LLS to hear from experts and patients discuss blood cancer diagnosis, treatment and survivorship. 

 LLS Community

 Join a community of other caregivers.

 Patti Robinson Kaufmann First Connection Program

 A support program that links you with a trained peer volunteer who has experienced a similar situation.

 Personalized Nutrition Consulations

  Our registered dietitian has expertise in oncology nutrition and provides patients, parents and caregivers with free nutrition consultations by phone or email.

 Information Specialists

 Speak one-on-one with an Information Specialist who can assist you through cancer treatment, financial and social challenges and give accurate, up-to-date disease, treatment and support information. Our Information Specialists are master's level oncology social workers, nurses and health educators.

Related Links

• Download of order The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s free booklets
  • Coping with Childhood Leukemia and Lymphoma 
  • Pictures of My Journey (coloring and activity book)