Cancer in parents: telling children

Sensitive communication can reduce psychological problems

Children of cancer patients “represent a hidden, high risk group whose problems are minimised by overwhelmed parents and unknown to the medical staff who seldom see them.”1 A recent editorial in the BMJ highlighted the difficulties doctors have in communicating the news of a cancer diagnosis to their patients.2 How much harder must it be for parents with newly diagnosed cancer to tell their children while coming to terms with the implications themselves? Cancer in a parent is an issue that confronts many families. For example, breast cancer affects one in 12 women in Britain,3 30% of whom are likely to be diagnosed while they have children still living at home.4

Good doctor-patient communication about the diagnosis and shared decision making over treatment are crucial and have a protective effect on patients' psychological adjustment,5 and useful …