Hi I’m searching for any forums that have advice on helping children or in my case a teenager to deal with my cancer diagnosis and treatment. My 13 year old is struggling with her emotions and we don’t know how best to help her
Hi I’m searching for any forums that have advice on helping children or in my case a teenager to deal with my cancer diagnosis and treatment. My 13 year old is struggling with her emotions and we don’t know how best to help her
Hello NickyJJ4978db
Thank you for reaching out through the Online Community. I’m sorry to hear about your diagnosis and that your daughter is struggling just now, it sounds like it’s been a really tough time for you all.
There are certainly a few things we can suggest that will hopefully help you support her with her emotions. Do school know about your diagnosis? It may help to tell them, so they can look out for your daughter while she is there and offer any additional support they may have access to.
Our booklet, Talking to children and teenagers when an adult has cancer, may help in supporting your daughter too NickyJJ4978db . It breaks things down into different age groups, looks at the importance of talking and has ideas for ways to support children.
A couple of other organisations that specialise in this area are Hope Support, who offer support for young people aged 5-25 when a close family member is diagnosed with a serious illness, and Fruitfly collective, who have lots of resources for parenting with cancer and supporting families.
I hope this information helps, I appreciate how difficult things must feel at the moment, but we are here to support you and your family, so you don’t have to go through this alone.
Grace, Information and Support Adviser
Remember you can also speak with the Macmillan Support Line team of experts. Phone free on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or by email.
