Talking to kids about cancer: 7 handy tips
A cancer diagnosis can be difficult to talk about. Talking about cancer to children can be particularly challenging. Here are seven handy tips for talking to kids about cancer.
How To Use The Kids Guide to Cancer App
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While almost half of all Australians will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives, it’s a topic most of us don’t know much about, so when a child we love is diagnosed, or is dealing with the diagnosis of somebody close to them, it can be difficult to know how to talk about it.
What is the Kids’ Guide to Cancer app?
Camp Quality’s Kids’ Guide to Cancer app offers a range of age-appropriate content parents can share with their children to help them understand, process, and better cope with the trauma of a cancer diagnosis.
With a library of information and stories about cancer delivered in age-appropriate language and supported by animated videos that break down and explain cancer-related terms in a way that kids can understand, the Kids’ Guide to Cancer app is a valuable support tool for families dealing with cancer.
Why the Kids’ Guide to Cancer app?
Understandably, kids who have been diagnosed with cancer and those with a family member living with cancer have a lot of questions! It’s important children’s questions are answered honestly, as a better understanding of what’s going on will reduce anxiety in the child and improve their ability to manage the stress and fear that come along with it.
The Kids’ Guide to Cancer app offers guidance on how to answer common questions kids have about the disease, hospitals, medicines, treatments, and the people who help in terms kids understand, including:
- Can I catch cancer?
- How long does cancer last?
- Does cancer hurt?
- What is the difference between radiotherapy and chemotherapy?
The Kids’ Guide to Cancer app also links users to a range of other tools and opportunities designed to help families deal with the trauma of a cancer diagnosis.
- Get in touch with Camp Quality and ask a question
- Chat to other parents who understand what you are going through
- Request a bedside puppet show or one to ease your child’s transition back to school
- Register your family with Camp Quality
- And heaps more!
How to get the Kids’ Guide to Cancer app
Download the app from Apple App Store or Google Play and select your language.
Or, if you prefer, you can access the content online at the Camp Quality website.
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