Hello, I couldn’t find any support for my teenage daughter when I was diagnosed 8 years ago. Hopefully that has now changed and someone will come on and point you in the right direction. My daughter was 13 at the time (she is 21 now). I asked her if she had any advice and what helped her. She said being honest, open and supporting each other really helped her, and it helped me too!
Hi RubyPaws I was diagnosed last October - my son was 15 at the time and in GCSE year. We shared only things we were sure about as I went through treatments (so yes, having surgery but didn’t say might need more surgery etc.). We encouraged him to ask questions and answered honestly but have let him manage things at his own pace. I spoke to his best friend’s mum and asked her if it was ok for her son to know so that he had a close friend he didn’t have to tell but who knew (if that makes sense). We asked him how he wanted school handled and he didn’t want it widely known so I spoke just to the staff member in charge of pastoral care and explained everything. Finally we mentioned along the way that if he wanted, post-exams, we could organise some counselling - just to have somebody to talk things through. We have just set this up and he has now had two sessions - am expecting him to have around 6-8 in total. Our local hospice does offer free counselling but only for under 16s. I am not sure if there is anything more official available for kids. I have felt so guilty bringing this into our home and it is such a lot for us all to deal with. All kids are different and I would follow your instincts. Good luck xx
