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College Scholarship Opportunities for Cancer Survivors and Family Members

Many people who have experienced cancer, either as survivors or as close family members of those affected, understand that the battle extends far beyond the medical realm. The repercussions often touch every facet of life, including education. As the costs of treatment can be overwhelming, it may be challenging for survivors or their family members to pursue higher education and fulfill their academic goals. However, it is heartening to know that there are numerous scholarships specifically designed to aid individuals who have been directly or indirectly affected by cancer. We hope that this information will serve as a practical aid for anyone striving to pursue their academic dreams after dealing with this terrible disease. ❤️

Four Scholarship Programs Available Now

Education should never be out of reach, and there are numerous educational discount programs designed specifically for those diagnosed with cancer. Tuition waivers, scholarships, and grants can make higher education more accessible. Vocational training programs and certifications are available too, which can open up new career opportunities for you. We encourage you to take advantage of these opportunities to enhance your skills and broaden your horizons.

1. Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF) Scholarships for Survivors

PAF’s scholarship program specifically aids students who have been diagnosed with or treated for a critical or life-threatening disease, including cancer. The scholarship helps students pursuing their undergraduate degree. Visit the PAF website for more information.

The Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF) Scholarships for Survivors program provides financial support to individuals who have been diagnosed with or treated for a critical or life-threatening disease, to aid in the pursuit of their undergraduate degree. Acknowledging the immense financial burden that healthcare costs can place on a family, this scholarship aims to alleviate some of the stress associated with higher education expenses.

The scholarship is open to students under the age of 25 and awards up to $3,000 per year, for a maximum of four years, to the selected applicants. The recipients of this scholarship are selected based on their academic achievement, leadership skills, and commitment to community service. In addition to the financial aid, the program also provides valuable resources and support to help students navigate their educational journey amidst health challenges.

Applying for the PAF Scholarships for Survivors program involves a comprehensive application process wherein students are required to submit their academic records, letters of recommendation, a personal essay, and a detailed account of their medical history. For more information on the eligibility criteria, application process, and deadlines, interested individuals are encouraged to visit the official website of the Patient Advocate Foundation.

2. The Ulman Foundation Scholarships

The Ulman Foundation offers multiple scholarships for young adults who have been affected by cancer, whether through their own diagnosis or the diagnosis of a loved one. Each scholarship aims to provide funds to support the education of these individuals. More information can be found on the Ulman Foundation website.

The Ulman Foundation offers an array of scholarships aimed at supporting young adults who have been impacted by cancer. Whether they themselves have been diagnosed, or a loved one, these scholarships aim to lessen the financial burden of education during a challenging time.

Among these is the “Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults Scholarship”, which targets young adults who have been diagnosed with cancer and are under the age of 40. There’s also the “Marilyn Yetso Memorial Scholarship”, specifically for those who have lost a parent to cancer, and the “Sib’s Journey Scholarship” that offers financial support to siblings of cancer patients.

Each scholarship has distinct eligibility criteria and application processes that prospective applicants should familiarize themselves with. Generally, the application process involves submitting academic transcripts, a personal essay detailing the applicant’s experience with cancer, and letters of recommendation.

These scholarships present an opportunity for personal growth and academic development aimed at those affected by cancer, enabling them to pursue their education despite the associated challenges. For additional details on eligibility, the application process, and the range of scholarships available, individuals are encouraged to visit the official Ulman Foundation website.

3. The John Foy & Associates Strong Arm Leukemia Scholarship

This $1,000 scholarship is open to college students who have battled leukemia or whose life has been affected by it. It is designed to help them achieve their academic goals despite the financial burden of their disease. Visit the John Foy & Associates website for further details.

The John Foy & Associates Strong Arm Leukemia Scholarship is a significant financial assistance program designed to support college students impacted by leukemia. Whether they themselves have battled the disease or have been affected by a loved one’s struggle, this scholarship aims to empower these individuals to pursue their academic ambitions.

The scholarship awards $1,000 to one student annually, directly contributing to their education-related expenses such as tuition, books, and housing. This financial aid aims to alleviate the financial strain often associated with managing both higher education and the expenses of a critical illness.

The application process for the Strong Arm Leukemia Scholarship is comprehensive, requiring candidates to submit a detailed application, academic transcripts, and an original essay. The essay should reflect the applicant’s personal experience with leukemia, and how it has influenced their life and education journey.

Recipients are chosen based on their academic achievements, personal essay, and their demonstrated determination to overcome the adversities associated with leukemia. This scholarship ultimately serves as a testament to the resilience and strength of students battling leukemia, embodying the firm’s motto – “The strong arm of the law”. To find out more about the John Foy & Associates Strong Arm Leukemia Scholarship, including detailed eligibility criteria and application deadlines, interested individuals are encouraged to visit the official John Foy & Associates website.

4. The Northwestern Mutual Scholarship for Siblings Program

Northwestern Mutual, in collaboration with Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, offers a unique scholarship program specifically for siblings of children diagnosed with cancer. The program acknowledges the emotional and financial strain a family experiences when a child is diagnosed with cancer and aims to support the educational aspirations of the siblings.

This scholarship offers up to $5,000 to the selected applicants, supporting them in their pursuit of an undergraduate degree. Eligible candidates must be between the ages of 18 to 35 and have a brother or sister who is a current or past patient of cancer.

The application process for the Northwestern Mutual Scholarship for Siblings Program is comprehensive, requiring the submission of academic transcripts, a personal essay articulating the impact of their sibling’s cancer journey on their lives, and letters of recommendation.

Recipients are chosen based on their demonstrated resilience in the face of adversity, academic achievements, and the compelling nature of their personal essay. The scholarship serves as a testament to the resilience and strength of these individuals, honoring their unique journey and supporting their academic pursuits. For more detailed information on eligibility, the application process, and deadlines, individuals are encouraged to visit the official Northwestern Mutual website.

Dealing with a disability or a life-threatening disease should not hinder one’s pursuit of education and personal growth. A myriad of resources, including scholarships, grants, and vocational training programs, are available to support individuals in their academic journey. From the Patient Advocate Foundation’s Scholarships for Survivors to the Ulman Foundation Scholarships, and the John Foy & Associates Strong Arm Leukemia Scholarship; these programs strive to alleviate the financial burden of education and empower individuals to reach their full potential. Explore these resources today and take a step closer to achieving your educational and career aspirations.

As you navigate life’s challenges, remember that your pursuit of education is a powerful testament to your resilience. Whether you are a cancer survivor, the sibling of a patient, or someone who has lost a loved one to this disease, know that there are resources designed specifically to support you. Scholarships like those offered by the Ulman Foundation, John Foy & Associates, and Northwestern Mutual, recognize your courage and are committed to helping you achieve your academic aspirations. Remember, these scholarships are more than just financial aid – they are a stepping stone to your future. So, explore these opportunities, step forward with determination, and let nothing stand in the way of your educational journey. You have already shown immense strength in the face of adversity, and this is yet another challenge you are more than capable of overcoming.

Even More Scholarship Programs

For additional scholarship programs specifically designed for cancer patients and their families, please visit the Cancer Care News nation’s directory. This resource offers a comprehensive list of scholarships and programs dedicated to supporting individuals and families affected by cancer in their pursuit of education. Access the directory at here . Explore these opportunities and find the support you need to continue your educational journey. ❤️

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Cancer Research Catalyst The Official Blog of the American Association for Cancer Research

Home > Cancer Research Catalyst > Cancer Survivors: In Their Words

Cancer Survivors: In Their Words

This year alone, an estimated 1.8 million people will hear their doctor say they have cancer. The individual impact of each person can be clouded in the vast statistics. In honor of National Cancer Survivor Month,  Cancer Today would like to highlight several personal essays we’ve published from cancer survivors at different stages of their treatment. 

In  this essay , psychiatrist Adam P. Stern’s cerebral processing of his metastatic kidney cancer diagnosis gives rise to piercing questions. When he drops off his 3-year-old son to daycare, he ponders a simple exchange: his son’s request for a routine morning hug before he turns to leave. “Will he remember me, only a little, just enough to mythologize me as a giant who used to carry him up the stairs? As my health declines, will he have to learn to adjust to a dad who used to be like all the other dads but then wasn’t?” he questions. 

In  another essay from a parent with a young child, Amanda Rose Ferraro describes the abrupt change from healthy to not healthy after being diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in May 2017. After a 33-day hospital stay, followed by weeklong chemotherapy treatments, Ferraro’s cancer went into remission, but a recurrence required more chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant. Ferraro describes harrowing guilt over being separated from her 3-year-old son, who at one point wanted nothing to do with her. “Giving up control is hard, but not living up to what I thought a mother should be was harder. I had to put myself first, and it was the hardest thing I had ever done,” she writes.

In January 1995, 37-year-old Melvin Mann was diagnosed with chronic myelogenous leukemia, which would eventually mean he would  need to take a chance on a phase I clinical trial that tested an experimental drug called imatinib—a treatment that would go on to receive U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval under the brand name Gleevec. It would also mean trusting a system with a documented history of negligence and abuse of Black people like him: “Many patients, especially some African Americans, are afraid they will be taken advantage of because of past unethical experiments like the infamous Tuskegee syphilis study​,” Mann writes, before describing changes that make current trials safer. Mann’s been on imatinib ever since and has enjoyed watching his daughter become a physician and celebrating 35 years of marriage.

In  another essay , Carly Flumer addresses the absurdity of hearing doctors reassure her that she had a good cancer after she was diagnosed with stage I papillary thyroid cancer in 2017. “What I did hear repeatedly from various physicians was that I had the ‘good cancer,’ and that ‘if you were to have a cancer, thyroid would be the one to get,’” she writes.

In another piece for Cancer Today , Flumer shares  how being diagnosed with cancer just four months after starting a graduate program shaped her education and future career path.

For Liza Bernstein, her breast cancer diagnosis created a paradox as she both acknowledged and denied the disease the opportunity to define who she was. “In the privacy of my own mind, I refused to accept that cancer was part of my identity, even though it was affecting it as surely as erosion transforms the landscape,” she writes . “Out in the world, I’d blurt out, ‘I have cancer,’ because I took questions from acquaintances like ‘How are you, what’s new?’ literally. Answering casual questions with the unvarnished truth wasn’t claiming cancer as my identity. It was an attempt to dismiss the magnitude of it, like saying ‘I have a cold.’” By her third primary breast cancer diagnosis, Bernstein reassesses and moves closer to acceptance as she discovers her role as advocate.

As part of the staff of  Cancer Today , a magazine and online resource for cancer patients, survivors and caregivers, we often refer to a succinct tagline to sum up our mission: “Practical knowledge. Real hope.” Part of providing information is also listening closely to cancer survivors’ experiences. As we celebrate National Cancer Survivor Month, we elevate these voices, and all patients and survivors in their journeys.

Cancer Today is a magazine and online resource for cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers published by the American Association for Cancer Research.  Subscriptions to the magazine are free ​ to cancer patients, survivors and caregivers who live in the U.S. 

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Cornell Community Cancer Partnership

Connecting cancer researchers with the local community, advice for college students with a parent with cancer.

There are thousands of college students in Ithaca and quite a few have a parent living with cancer. They often wonder how they can help their parent, and their parent often worries about them. Here are some suggestions:

For the college student:

• Educate yourself about your parent’s cancer. Some cancers are likely to be temporary disruptions, while others are truly life-changing. You’ll be more helpful if you have a basic understanding of your parent’s specific cancer.
• Don’t be afraid of asking questions. What we imagine is almost always worse than the reality.
• Don’t drift away. Communicate on a regular basis. Your concern and your love come through by staying in touch.
• Find someone that you can talk to about your parent’s illness. It can be a sibling, a friend, a counselor, or someone else. You probably don’t want advice, but you will want someone to listen to you without judgment and without interruption.
• Live your life as normally as possible. The last thing most parents want to do is disrupt your life.

For the parent:

• Be honest. There’s a tendency to want to sugarcoat bad news. It’s better to be truthful. Your children don’t want to wonder if you’re telling them the whole truth.
• Don’t depend on your child as your primary source of emotional support.
• Encourage your child to enjoy college. It’s a wonderful opportunity to explore and to mature.

With cancer, there’s almost always some degree of uncertainty. No one knows for sure how an individual will respond to treatment or how their disease will behave in the future. Sometimes the most reasonable course of action is for everyone to assume the best and to continue to move forward. If thing do change, keep everyone informed and in the loop. Above all, communicate frequently and honestly.

Reprinted from When Your Life is Touched by Cancer: Practical Advice and Insights for Patients, Professionals and Those Who Care .

Financial Aid & College Scholarships for Cancer Survivors

College is an exciting time of life filled with new experiences, knowledge, and relationships. Although it is expensive, childhood cancer patients and survivors have several college scholarship and financial aid options.

Many organizations provide scholarships for cancer patients and survivors. In addition, there are financial aid opportunities available for people with certain disabilities.

Some scholarships are available for family members of cancer patients. Be sure to check the application criteria for all scholarships.

Tips for successful scholarship applications

• Every scholarship is different. Read the application and the organization’s website carefully. Note the application deadline as well as contact information, application requirements, and ability to renew the scholarship each year. Don’t miss an opportunity because of a simple mistake.
• In general, applicants must provide a letter from a doctor stating the original diagnosis and the age the patient began treatment. Allow the doctor plenty of time to write the letter.
• Some applications may also request letters of reference from teachers, coaches, or employers. Ask these people in advance. Don’t wait until the last minute.

Every scholarship is different. Read the application and the organization’s website carefully.

Scholarship essay tips

Many scholarship applications require an essay. Some will ask the same types of essay questions. You may be able to tweak an essay written for one scholarship to meet requirements for other applications.

Make sure to have someone knowledgeable about writing and grammar proofread your application and essay.

List of scholarships for cancer patients and survivors

The organizations that offer these scholarships are often funded by donations and endowments given in honor or in memory of other pediatric and young adult cancer patients.

Beyond the Cure

These scholarships are for childhood cancer survivors who have demonstrated the ability to overcome the difficult challenges of cancer with determination and motivation. Fifty-eight (58) $3,500 scholarships are awarded each academic year. The scholarship application period is from January – March of each calendar year.

Applicants must be:

• A childhood cancer survivor under the age of 25
• Diagnosed before the age of 18 with cancer or a high-grade or anaplastic brain tumor
• A citizen of the United States living within the country and attending school in the U.S.
• Accepted into a post-secondary school in the fall of the upcoming school year.

Visit the website for an application:

Beyond the Cure Ambassador Scholarship Program

Cancer for College

The website provides a number of different scholarship offers to different regions of the United States. Scholarship application period is November 1-January 31 each year. Applicants must be planning to attend a degree-earning program in the United States. Certain scholarships listed are relevant only for particular states. 

Applicants need:

• Their parents’ tax return(s)
• Their own personal tax return or proof of any income if they do not file a tax return
• A letter of good standing from the university attending
• 2 years of academic transcripts, confirmation of diagnosis letter
• Confirmation of Diagnosis letter
• A letter of recommendation from 1 person outside your family
• Total annual cost of attendance

Cancer for College Scholarship Application

National Collegiate Cancer Foundation

This organization provides services and support to young adults whose lives have been impacted by cancer and who have continued with their education throughout treatment or after their treatment. Each award is $1,000. Applications available in March. Deadline is May 15.

• A young adult cancer survivor or current patient between the ages of 18-35. Exceptions are made for age 17 if entering college in the fall following application.
• A U.S. citizen or permanent resident
• Attending or planning to attend an accredited college, university or vocational institution in pursuit of an associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, doctorate or certificate as of the fall following application

National Collegiate Cancer Foundation Scholarships

The Ortlieb Foundation

The foundation was created to honor cancer survivor Evan Ortleib, who was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma at age 16. Scholarships are awarded twice each year (spring and fall) and are valued at $1,000 each. The submission deadline for the spring semester is December 15, and the deadline for the fall semester is June 15.

Eligibility requirements include:

• Letter of cancer diagnosis and treatment of chemotherapy , radiation , or proton therapy from oncologist
• Proof of enrollment in full-time study at a four-year college or university
• Transcripts from high school or college
• Standardized test scores (ACT or SAT)
• 1040 tax documents from parents and self
• 2 letters of recommendation from teachers, mentors, or employers
• 250-word essay on academic and career goals

Ortlieb Foundation Scholarship Application

Ronald McDonald House Charities

The network of U.S. chapters, along with the global office of RMHC, offers scholarships to students in financial need who have demonstrated academic achievement, leadership, and community involvement. Since 1985, more than $56 million in scholarships have been awarded.

Scholarships are awarded by local RMHC chapters.

Find Your Local RMHC Chapter

The Ulman Fund for Young Adults

Scholarships available to young adults affected by cancer through their own diagnosis or through the diagnosis of a parent or sibling. Applicants must be between the ages of 15 and 39 during the time of diagnosis/treatment. Recipients will be awarded a total of $2,500 over two academic semesters, paid directly to the recipient’s school. Deadline is March 1.

Ulman Cancer Fund Scholarships

Scholarship databases

Finaid: the smartstudent guide to financial aid.

This page contains information about scholarships for cancer patients, cancer survivors, children of a cancer patient or survivor, students who lost a parent to cancer, and students pursuing careers in cancer treatment.

FinAid Scholarships

The Samfund

Grants and scholarships provided by the Samfund cover a wide range of post-treatment financial needs, such as (but not limited to): rent and mortgage assistance; health insurance premiums; car payments, insurance, and repairs; continuing education and loans; gym memberships; and mental health expenses. This group is no longer accepting applications for undergraduate tuition, as they have in the past, but rather is focusing on other school-related expenses. Applications open in the spring.

Applicants need to:

• Be between the ages of 21 and 39
• Either (1) finished active treatment with no evidence of disease, (2) completed one year of planned treatment and be in a stable condition, or (3) be receiving long-term hormonal or targeted therapy.

Samfund Cancer Survivor Grants

Scholarship resources for students with physical disabilities

San francisco state university disability resource center.

The Disability Programs and Resource Center at San Francisco State University has compiled a list of scholarships for students of various disabilities. A chart lists the organization offering the scholarship as well as general information and a link to each scholarship page.

SFSU Disability Resource Center Scholarships

University of Washington Disability Resource Page

The University of Washington has put together a page with tips on searching for funding for students with disabilities. In addition to links to sites offering scholarships, it also discusses other ways students might find information on funding, such as vocational rehab and other state programs. Scholarships are listed by type of disability.

Scholarships for vision-impaired students

American council of the blind (acb).

This organization offers scholarships to legally blind student going to technical, undergraduate, or graduate school.  Scholarships range from $1,500-$7,500. Application deadline is February 15.

American Council of the Blind Scholarships

American Foundation for the Blind (AFB)

The AFB offers multiple scholarships to legally blind students. Application deadline is April 1.

Descriptions of the scholarships, as well as the online application can be found at the above website.

American Foundation for the Blind Scholarship

Council of Citizens with Low Vision International – Fred Scheigert Scholarship

This program awards 3 students an individual prize of $3,000 to full-time college students with low vision. Applicants must meet visual acuity and academic guidelines. Scholarship guidelines, application, and vision certification are offered on the website from January 1 to March 15 of each year. The scholarship application must be completed online. Selected finalists will be required to complete a phone interview with committee members. Chosen winners are expected to attend an annual meeting in conjunction with the American Council of the Blind National Convention (usually in July).

CCLVI Scheigert Scholarship

National Federation of the Blind (NFB)

The NFB offers 30 scholarships to legally blind students each year, worth from $3,000 to $12,000. The winner must participate in the NFB national convention in July and all its scheduled scholarship program activities. Assistance is available for convention needs. Application due in March 31.

• Legally blind in both eyes
• A resident of the United States or Puerto Rico
• Planning to attend postsecondary study in the United States

National Federation of the Blind Scholarship Program

Christian Record Services for the Blind

The Anne Lowe Scholarship is awarded to blind students based on academic achievement and citizenship. Applications must be submitted or postmarked by April 15.

Application information/requirements:

• Currently registered as a full-time student in undergraduate studies at accredited college or university in the U.S.
• Minimum 3.0 GPA
• Written essay
• 3 letters of recommendation from non-family members

Scholarship is distributed in two parts during the school year

Anne Lowe Scholarship — Christian Record Services for the Blind

Scholarships for hearing-impaired students

Sertoma – service to mankind.

This group offers scholarships to individuals with hearing impairments and communicative disorders. Scholarships are available in $1,000 amounts. Application deadline is May 1.

Qualifications:

• Must have a minimum 40dB bilateral hearing loss, as evidenced on audiogram by an SRT & PTA of 40dB or greater in both ears
• Must be a citizen of the U.S.
• Must be pursuing a bachelor’s degree on a full-time basis at a college or university in the United States
• Must have a minimum cumulative 3.2 GPA on a 4.0 unweighted scale
• 2 letters of recommendation
• High school and/or college transcript
• Recent audiogram from a hearing health professional (must not be any older than two years)
• Hearing loss on application must be verifiable from audiogram

Sertoma Scholarships

AG Bell College Scholarship Program

AG Bell Scholarships are for high-achieving students who have bilateral hearing loss that was diagnosed before age 4.

• Must be using listening and spoken language as your primary communication mode
• Must attend a mainstream university and working toward a four-year undergraduate degree or a graduate degree

Hydrocephalus

Hydrocephalus association.

Scholarships applicants must be  17 or older with hydrocephalus. The scholarship funds must be used for an educational purpose, including, but not limited to, a 2-year or 4-year college, a high school post-graduate year to prepare for college, technical or trade school, an accredited employment-training program, or a post–graduate program. Scholarships are $1,000 each.

Application opens in January and is due April 15.

Hydrocephalus Association’s Scholarship Program

Learning-disabled

National center for learning disabilities.

Scholarships are available for 2 graduating high school seniors with documented learning disabilities and/or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder who are pursuing postsecondary educatoin.

National Center for Learning Disabilities Scholarships

• Epsilon Sigma Alpha (ESA)
• Sallie Mae Student Loans
• Federal Student Aid
• Financial Aid Scholarships

— Together does not endorse any branded product mentioned in this article.

— Reviewed: February 2020

College Classroom Accommodations

College and trade schools likely have services to help you when you need academic or physical accommodations for cancer-related problems. Sometimes cancer and treatment side effects can affect thinking and learning skills or your ability to get around from place to place.

Keep Up with School

Cancer treatment and side effects will likely disrupt your regular school schedule. Find resources to help you make the most of your education.

ACT or SAT Accommodations

Cancer patients may qualify for accommodations on ACT and SAT tests. Accommodations are changes made to the regular testing environment to allow people with disabilities to demonstrate their true ability on tests.

When Your Parent Has Cancer: A Guide for Teens

This guide is for young people who have a parent with cancer. You are not alone. Find out what has helped other teens get through this tough time.

Use this guide to get information and advice on:

• Ways to deal with changes your family may go through
• Dealing with stress
• Finding support and talking with your friends
• How you can help yourself and your parent
• Cancer, treatments, and side effects
• Life after treatment and the road ahead
• Additional resources and organizations

Tested and developed with advice from teens, this guide includes quotes from teens who have a parent with cancer, checklists to help you get support from others, and a section of related organizations and resources.  

The information in this booklet was last updated in February 2012.

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Holes – A Survivor’s College Essay

One year ago, Matthew Buff, a leukemia survivor, was fine-tuning his college applications. Today, he is a busy freshman at Emory University majoring in biology on a pre-med track. Matthew's personal goal is to become a pediatric oncologist focused on genetic research. The following is his college admissions essay. 

A round piece of silicone wrapped in a metal ring about the size of a quarter. If you tip it slightly, at just the right angle, where it catches the light, you would see hundreds of tiny holes covering the entirety of its surface. A miniature vacated battlefield of a war once won. It may not look like much to most people, but this tiny piece of plastic riddled with needle holes called a port or port-a-cath, helped to save my life and is now my visual inspiration to help others.

In the beginning, each hole could have easily represented another round of chemotherapy, spinal tap, blood transfusion, hospitalization, surgery or enrollment into a new study to treat my leukemia. They could also represent another day unable to attend school, each time being isolated from friends, and too many middle-of-the-night trips to the emergency room that would ultimately lead to another round of pokes, tests and abruptly waking to the beeping alarm of my IV pole early the next morning.

However, as my body has recuperated over the past five years since completing cancer treatment, the meaning of each hole has also transformed. Each hole now represents a lesson learned, a person met through my experience and the opportunity to make impactful change or people affected by catastrophic illness.

My parents and doctors have always encouraged me to not let my experience with cancer define me. I believe I have done a good job of incorporating that into my daily life, relationships and pursued interests. However, as I have matured and started to gain new experiences in life, I have chosen to reconnect with my past and allow it to acutely influence my perspective. I can’t help but to see the world from a slightly different angle than my peers after experiencing the delicateness and resiliency of life by age 12. I no longer view those years in and out of the hospital as negative, but a gift to help shape my abilities and sharpen my purpose.

From a very young age, I’ve learned to be an advocate for myself, to be an effective communicator, how to endure and thrive through challenges, become a capable and independent learner and find joy in contributing back to the community that surrounded me during my time of need. I want to now expand on those experiences and create new and meaningful relationships within the college environment that will continue to mold how I see the world and my future contributions within it.

I want to bravely explore other “holes” people have endured within their own lives, sit with them, and begin to find ways to alleviate their struggles through the commonalities of the human experience. If we can appreciate our differences, yet focus on what connects us, I believe there would be more peace in the world and fewer opportunities for any kind of pain and suffering. Empathy and compassion, in combination with technology and research, has the potential to redefine health and care. I intend for my experience and knowledge to be part of this progress.

My current objective is to build my college education with a concentration in biology and life sciences with the goal to become a research oncologist. Beyond my academic interest in those areas, I believe shifting my experiences from patient or receiver of care, to student of science with the intent to deliver care, will provide me the knowledge and holistic perspective to begin to develop the passion and endurance necessary to make a life-long commitment to healing through medicine.

We can’t always choose the experiences that shape us into who we are meant to be, but we can utilize them to empower ourselves, inspire each other and help others. Holes don’t have to be permanent; they can be the necessary foundation to begin to build something important and meaningful. We must be willing to excavate our own comfort, take risk, overcome challenges, plant new footings and create solutions to fill the gaps that are exposed in both our own lives, and in the lives of the people around us. Sometimes, if we look at things from a slightly different angle, like when the light reflects off my port, we can find new solutions to effectively and completely fill each new hole.

Written by Matthew Buff   Matthew was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in March 2009. Now six years beyond treatment, he is a college student working towards his goal of becoming a pediatric oncologist focused on genetic research. 

Support Research for Survivors like Matthew

Many childhood cancer survivors rely on survivorship clinics in order to make sure their cancer stays away and address the late-effects of their cancer treatment. Your donation supports the researchers who make these clinics possible for survivors like Matthew.

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Donor Profile: Blythe Brenden

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Cancer for Common App Essay Topic

Hello, My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer between my freshman and sophomore years of high school. She is now healthy and in remission, but the experience was difficult for both of us. I was thinking about writing about this experience for my Common Application essay. Instead of making it a pity essay, I was hoping to focus on how I have grown from their experience and how it inspired me to start a local campaign (with my mom’s support) to spread awareness about preventative care for young women and aid local patients. Would this still be a “cheesy” essay? Thanks!

Not if you are authentic and specific. For example, avoid throwing around general phrases like “Going through this experience with my mother made me realize how fragile life is,” or sticking too much to the generally used narrative: start off in the waiting room with the diagnosis / your mother telling you that she had cancer --> you are devastated --> you watch as she goes through X, Y, and Z --> you feel powerless to help --> you do intensive research on cancer / raise a lot of money for some cancer-related cause --> now you’re interested in becoming a doctor, lol.

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Interventions for children of parents with cancer: an overview

Alexander wuensch.

a Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Section Psychossocial Counselling and Tigerherz. . . when parents have cancer, Medical Center – University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, Albert Ludwigs University, Freiburg, Germany

c Department of Medical Oncology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland

Annette Kirbach

b Department Rehabilitation-Psychology and Psychotherapy, Institute for Psychology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany

Luca Meyerding

J.ü.rgen bengel, stefanie pietsch, purpose of review.

The purpose of this overview is to analyze existing reviews on psychosocial interventions for children of parents with cancer and synthesize implications for further practice, interventions, and research in this field. The aim of this overview is therefore to generate systematic knowledge about what can be classed as evidence-based knowledge in this field.

Recent findings

The literature search in MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, PSYNDEX, and PsycARTICLES resulted in three systematic reviews, which were evaluated by the AMSTAR-2-tool for quality assessment and the PRISMA-checklist for reporting. Results were analyzed through narrative synthesis due to the heterogeneity of the studies. The three systematic reviews were evaluated by the AMSTAR-2-tool for quality assessment and the PRISMA-checklist for reporting. AMSTAR-2 revealed critically low quality for all three reviews but taking into account the study situation of this scientific context, a more optimistic quality assessment can be suggested. The PRISMA checklist revealed good results. Positive evidence was found for the effect of psychosocial interventions concerning depressive symptoms, children's behavior, communication within the family, and quality of life. A comparison of the interventions is not possible due to the high degree of heterogeneity of the studies.

Following the principles of evidence-based medicine, this overview, together with clinical-practical expertise and the needs of those affected, could contribute to evidence-based care and stimulate future guidelines in this important field. The valuable engagement with questions around evidence-based practice invites professionals and researchers to enter into a common discourse to ultimately contribute to an improvement of the life situation of children of parents with cancer.

INTRODUCTION

Approximately 7–14% of cancer patients have children under the age of 18 [ 1 ]. The focus of institutional support, however, is mostly on those who are themselves affected by cancer, and relatives are sometimes characterized as the ‘forgotten group’ (2, p. 459). 

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Several studies show an increased risk of emotional or behavioral problems for children who have a parent with cancer [ 3 – 6 ]. The children are affected by fear of losing the sick parent, changes of everyday life because the sick parent is absent for treatment, possible financial worries, or changes in the physical or emotional availability of parents [ 6 – 8 ]. Children might react with internalized symptoms such as depression, anxiety or distress [ 6 ], symptoms of regression like enuresis [ 3 ], or externalized symptoms such as aggression [ 9 ]. However, reviews show high variability and inconsistency regarding the prevalence of symptoms [ 8 , 10 – 12 ].

Beyond the question of distress or disorder, Ellis et al. [ 13 ] analyzed the needs of affected children and conclude that children need appropriate information, support in communication about the issues, support by peers, support in expressing emotions, individual support in coping with the situation and special support when it comes to dying and mourning processes. The biggest support for children in need could come from their parents. Yet, the parents themselves suffer too. Family caregivers experience emotional problems, such as anxiety, depression, fatigue, and sleep problems [ 14 ]. Although 73% of patients with children wanted information about psychosocial services to support their children or parenting, family-centered support was used by only 9% of these respondents [ 15 ].

Scientific evidence on the impact of interventions for children of parents with cancer is available nationally and internationally through studies and evaluations [ 1 , 2 , 6 , 11 , 13 ]. However, studies and even reviews often appear unconnected from each other due to different research questions as well as heterogeneous study designs.

The aim of our review is therefore to generate systematic knowledge about what can be classed as evidence-based knowledge from the various study results on the effects of psychosocial interventions for children of parents with cancer. Toward this aim we have prepared an ‘overview’ as a systematic review of existing reviews [ 16 , 17 ]. Since the number of systematic reviews, which can be analyzed is quite limited, the overview covers the period between 2005 and 2020.

The compilation of an ‘overview’ (aka Umbrella Review, Meta-Review [ 18 ]) is a relatively new procedure [ 18 ]. To date, there are no agreed upon guidelines [ 17 , 19 ], but several recommendations for an overview [ 17 , 20 ▪ , 21 , 22 ]. We decided to apply the seven steps described by Lunny [ 21 , 22 ], and integrated the statements by Pollock et al. [ 17 , 20 ▪ , 23 ], for evaluating the evidence of reviews based on risk of bias and methodological quality assessments. According to the recommendation of the Cochrane Collaboration we focused mainly on the level of systematic reviews and only in in well justified exceptions on the level of primary studies [ 20 ▪ ].

Specification of purpose, objectives, and scope

Liberati et al. [ 24 ] operationalized this objective with the acronym PICOS for Population, Intervention, Comparator group, Outcome, and Study design.

Specification of eligibility criteria

According to Lunny et al. [ 21 ], the following inclusion and exclusion criteria can be applied: The PICO(S) components of the desired reviews and a criterion for the quality of the methodological approach in the reviews. They also take into account the number of authors involved in the respective steps of the selection process.

Search methods

In searching for relevant systematic reviews the sources to be used (e.g., databases), and the specific search strategy should be determined in advance [ 21 ].

Data extraction

According to Pollock et al. [ 17 , 20 ▪ ] the data should be extracted and described according to aims, date of publication and place of origin, numbers of included studies, search strategies and inclusion criteria, evaluation and statement about risk-of-bias, applied methods, and significant quantitative or qualitative findings.

Assessment of risk of bias in systematic reviews

We decided to evaluate the reviews with the AMSTAR-2 checklist [ 25 ] for the quality of the methodology and the PRISMA checklist [ 26 ] for the quality of reporting and the risk of bias. The AMSTAR-2 checklist gives guidance on evaluating reviews according to 16 specific questions and each review can be finally evaluated in the four categories high, moderate, low, and critically low. The PRISMA checklist consists of 27 items and provides guidance on the quality of reporting.

Assessment of certainty of the evidence

Due to the expected heterogeneity of studies, we decided to discuss the certainty of the evidence on the grounds of AMSTAR-2 and PRISMA.

Synthesis, presentation, and summary of findings

In this section, information should be reported [ 17 , 21 , 27 ] describing the included reviews, methodological quality, synthesis of reviews, referring back to primary studies where needed, a summary of findings, and interpretation of findings.

We describe the results according to the steps by Lunny et al. [ 21 , 22 ].

With reference to the PICOS framework, the objective of the overview can be outlined as follows:

• Population: children aged between 0 and 18 who have a parent with cancer;
• Intervention: all psychosocial interventions that support children;
• Comparator group: treatment as usual or no treatment;
• Outcome: decrease or no change in distress;
• Study design: quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods approaches.

In addition to the above-mentioned criteria, we included the following eligibility criteria: date of publication between 2005 and 2020, publication in a peer-reviewed journal reporting according to the PRISMA statement (see point 5) and published in English or German. Two of the authors (A.K. and S.P.) checked the titles and abstracts of all search results. Discrepancies were discussed until consensus was reached.

Search results

We searched the data banks of MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, PSYNDEX, and PsycARTICLES with the following trunks:

• child∗ or paediatric or pediatric or offspring or adolescen∗ or teen∗
• parent∗ or guardian or caregiver or mother or father
• neoplasm or cancer or oncol∗
• intervention or program or treatment
• review or systematic review or meta or meta-analysis

The data search carried out in February 2020 resulted in 332 hits. After removing duplicates, 257 reviews remained. In total, 248 publications were excluded because they concerned children with the diagnosis of cancer or were not published in English or German. The nine remaining articles were read in full. Reviews which focused on grief or mourning processes, which were not clear about the scientific approach, or which did not describe an intervention were excluded. The entire process was done by two of the authors (A.K. and S.P.) independently and disagreement was discussed until consensus was reached. Three reviews remained. See Fig. ​ Fig.1 1 for the PRISMA flowchart.

PRISMA flowchart of the literature search performed.

We found three systematic reviews, which fulfilled all the search criteria: Alexander et al. [ 28 ▪▪ ] and Ellis et al. [ 13 ] from Australia, and Inhestern et al. [ 29 ] from Germany. All these reviews are published in English and followed the PRISMA guidelines. All three reviews aimed to assess interventions for children who have parents with cancer. Alexander et al. [ 28 ▪▪ ] focused on a review of existing interventions and their effectiveness, Ellis et al. [ 13 ] additionally focused on the needs of children, and Inhestern et al. additionally focused on barriers to implementing those interventions. Included studies varied from 8 (Alexander et al. [ 28 ▪▪ ]) to 12 (Ellis et al. [ 13 ]) to 16 (Inhestern et al. [ 29 ]). Inclusion criteria mainly differed in the time-range of publications (Alexander et al. from 2006 to 2018 [ 28 ▪▪ ]; Ellis et al. 1985 to 2015 [ 13 ], Inhestern et al. unlimited [ 29 ]) and inclusion- or exclusion of qualitative studies. The quality assessment of the included primary studies was done by the Mixed-Methods-Appraisal tool (MMAT, [ 30 ]) for the systematic reviews by Ellis et al. [ 13 ] and Inhestern et al. [ 29 ]. Alexander et al. used the appraisal tool developed by Keim-Malpass et al. [ 31 ]. Alexander et al. [ 28 ▪▪ ] included quantitative studies and studies with mixed methods, Ellis et al. [ 13 ] included qualitative and quantitative studies, and Inhestern et al. [ 29 ] included qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods studies. All author groups pointed out the high heterogenity in the quality of included studies and decided not to calculate a meta-analysis. Alexander et al. [ 28 ▪▪ ] describe interventions with their characteristics and their contents. They describe the effects of the studies only when there is a variable on the child included. Ellis et al. [ 13 ] describe the needs of affected children. In the outcome description, they also include qualitative studies and nonrandomized controlled trials. Inhestern et al. [ 29 ] describe studies and enlarge their findings with the objective of establishing how to implement these interventions (Table ​ (Table1 1 ).

Overview of the characteristics/features of the reviews on psychosocial interventions for children of parents with cancer

(1) Medline, PsycInfo, ProQuest, Cochrane, CINAHL, Embase, Google Scholar; (2) Journal of Psychosocial Oncology, Psycho-oncology, Cancer; (3) Medline, CINAHL, PsychInfo, EMBASE, Social Work Abstracts; (4) CINAHL, Embase, Medline, PsycInfo, Psyndex.

Applying the criteria of the AMSTAR-2 checklist only, we came to the result of critically low quality for all three reviews (see Table ​ Table2) 2 ) even though all the reviews were carried out to high research standards.

Overview of the evaluation of the reviews with AMSTAR-2

Y = Yes, pY = partial Yes, N = No, n.a. = not applicable, as no meta-analysis was performed. (1) no indication of this in the text; (2) the germinal mal patch instrument could not be identified as sufficient for a pY or Y response; (3) use of MMAT (see AMSTAR-2 guidance document, Shea et al. , 2017); (4) leaned toward yes because publication bias discussed; (5) no indication of how conflicts of interest were handled.

Table ​ Table3 3 summarizes the results of the PRISMA checklist. All the reviews report their findings at a good quality level. Inhestern et al. [ 29 ] published a protocol in advance and added the PRISMA checklist to their publication. Nevertheless, many items of the PRISMA checklist could not be applied due to the high heterogenity of primary studies and the limitation of having to do a meta-analysis.

Overview of the assessment of reviews using the PRISMA checklist (Moher et al. , 2009/2011)

n.a. = not applicable; n.r  = not reported; p.p. = partially present. For the items: (1) background, objectives, data sources, selection criteria, participants and interventions, quality assessment, synthesis methods, results, limitations, conclusions; (2) P = population/participants, I = interventions, C = comparator group/comparisons, O = outcome/target criteria, S = study designs; (3) e.g., period of studies, language, publication status; (4) preselection, eligibility, inclusion in systematic review, meta-analysis if applicable; (5) e.g., publication bias, selective reporting within studies; for the responses: (6) not entirely complete; (7) limited, part of quality assessment, no classic RoB estimate as no meta-analysis; (8) naming certainty of evidence limited; (9) role of supporters∗ not described.

Ellis et al. [ 13 ] and Inhestern et al. [ 29 ] applied the MMAT-quality tool [ 30 ] for evaluating the risk of bias. Alexander et al. [ 28 ▪▪ ] applied the Keim-Malpass-tool [ 31 ], but we could not find sufficient information. More details can be seen in Table ​ Table4 4 .

Citation matrix to show the overlap of primary studies

Assessment of certainty of the evidence arising from the overview

The heterogeneity of primary studies is quite diverse, and primary studies with a qualitative or mixed-method approach were sometimes included. Therefore, the formalistic evaluation of the three reviews is low with Inhestern et al. receiving a better evaluation than the other two reviews. However, all three reviews applied the best scientific standards and therefore the quality evaluation in the current scientific context has to be regarded as the best possible.

Due to the heterogeneous nature of the primary studies, all three selected reviews report the results of the individual studies on a case-by-case basis.

Alexander et al. [ 28 ▪▪ ] found positive results related to changes in children's depressive symptoms. Here, the components of psychoeducation, supportive counseling, improvement in coping skills, and communication seem to be helpful. However, this only refers to two of the eight studies. The authors point out that these components are broadly defined, and no study examines their specific contribution to the effect of the intervention. No significant results were found for the domain of children's anxiety by Alexander et al. [ 28 ▪▪ ] except in the domain of the subscale of cancer-related worry and in relation to the more general factor of psychological stress.

Ellis et al. [ 13 ] divide the included studies into categories of study design [qualitative, randomized controlled studies (RCT), and non-RCT]. Mixed-methods design studies are categorized as the most relevant to the data. The authors report positive outcomes in child and parent mood, child behavior, and family communication, with these improvements produced by interventions of varying duration and intensity. The nonsignificant results of the studies are mentioned only in the description of each study but are not revisited in the summary and discussion.

Inhestern et al. [ 29 ] divide the studies into the categories of family-centered, parent-centered, and child-centered interventions. The authors report that participants perceived the interventions as helpful, and experienced positive outcomes in terms of quality of life, mental health/mental distress, improved understanding and more open communication among families.

Despite the heterogenity of primary studies, we conclude that interventions do have a positive impact on children. A more specific analysis of the effects of each type of intervention could not be made.

The Cochrane Collaboration describe one of the aims of an overview to represent the body of evidence of existing systematic reviews. This aim could be met, even though an evidence summary proved difficult due to the heterogenity of the studies included. The recommendation building up on homogeneous reviews with high methodological quality in an overview could not be met. The factor of narrative synthesis of results can mitigate this circumstance somewhat. With the selection of the AMSTAR-2 instrument (quality of implementation) and the PRISMA checklist (quality of reporting), established and relatively well validated assessment instruments were chosen. Both are characterized by a detailed and differentiated consideration of different quality criteria.

Out of the 332 articles found in the literature search, three systematic reviews were included in the final analysis. Subsequent assessment of the methodological evaluation using the AMSTAR-2 checklist revealed a critically low quality for all three reviews [ 25 ]. However, taking into account the study situation of this scientific context, a more optimistic quality assessment with the result ‘satisfactory’ can be suggested. Shea et al. [ 6 ] emphasize that not only the AMSTAR-2 criteria should be taking into account, but the scientific context should also be considered. It should be mentioned that the quality of primary studies was very heterogeneous, so a systematic review will be limited in its quality. The quality of reporting for all three reviews was found to be good, as assessed by using the PRISMA checklist. The review by Inhestern et al. [ 29 ] scored slightly better than Alexander et al. [ 28 ▪▪ ] and Ellis et al. [ 13 ] in both the AMSTAR-2 and PRISMA quality ratings. Due to the lack of certainty in the evidence, no generalizable conclusions about the effectiveness of interventions could be made. However, the reviews report positive changes from the interventions in children's depressive and stress-related symptoms [ 28 ▪▪ ], in children's behavior and family communication [ 13 ], in quality of life, psychological distress, and a better understanding of their parents’ cancer [ 29 ]. Concerning the interventions, it can be cautiously concluded that those interventions that focus on the entire family system seem to be effective. The most common content components of interventions are as follows: Building coping skills, expressing/managing feelings, psychoeducation, and improving communication. Because the setting varied throughout the studies, no valid conclusions can be made about the appropriate duration of interventions. In addition, the interventions were experienced as helpful by the affected individuals themselves [ 29 ]. No changes were reported concerning anxiety [ 28 ▪▪ ].

The biggest challenge in this field of research is the implementation of reliable, valid studies that meet the criteria of children in a situation of existential threat, as well as maintaining high ethical standards. An intervention with a waiting control design has a considerable ethical dilemma.

It might be questioned whether an overview in this field is adequate. The Cochrane Collaboration's claim to use homogeneous reviews with high methodological quality in an overview could not be met [ 20 ▪ ]. However, the overview meets the requirement of clinical–psychological intervention development and research to align interventions with the current state of research [ 32 ] and care. Thus, our overview has the potential to provide input for the development of recommendations for action that could influence future guidelines for practice and research in this important field.

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Ina Heinzelmann and Jörg Stern, both in our team, who work with children who have parents with cancer for their helpful comments.

Financial support and sponsorship

The study was done as a Master's thesis in psychology by A.K. without any financial support.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

REFERENCES AND RECOMMENDED READING

Papers of particular interest, published within the annual period of review, have been highlighted as:

• ▪ of special interest
• ▪▪ of outstanding interest

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Families fighting cancer together

Article by Amy Cherry Photo illustration by Jeffrey C. Chase | Photo by Kathy F. Atkinson April 10, 2024

UD researcher testing family-focused interventions in African Americans with cancer

The moment you’re told the dreaded words: “You have cancer,” your life changes forever. A parent diagnosed with cancer goes through a rollercoaster of emotions from guilt and shame to resiliency.   

“For African American women, it’s about being Superwoman — being the glue of the family, always having strength, never being vulnerable, being independent,” said La-Rhonda Harmon , a licensed family therapist at Integrated Health & Wellness in Wilmington. “Many African American families are run by single moms, whose diagnosis brings feelings of shame.” 

Children of Black single-parent households whose parents are diagnosed with cancer also felt a range of emotions from guilt and resentment to apathy. 

“They felt guilty watching their parents struggle or resentful because they couldn’t be regular teenagers; they wanted to hang out with friends but also understood their parents needed their support,” Harmon said. “Others would just suppress feelings of pain.” 

These crucial discoveries came in a series of attachment-based family intervention therapy sessions designed by University of Delaware Health Behavior and Nutrition Sciences Professor Adam Davey , who has long wanted to see interventions that address the psychosocial needs of African American patients with cancer and their families.