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Is it my fault?
You did not make your mom or
dad get cancer. No one in your family
did anything to make your mom or dad sick.
Having a fight or thinking something mean
does not cause cancer. We do not know
what causes cancer but many people are
working on this problem.
Can I catch cancer?
Cancer is not contagious like
a cold or the flu. You can hug and sit
close by your mom or dad. You will not
get sick.
Will my other parent get sick too?
You might be worried that your
other parent will get sick. It is very
unusual for this to happen. Talk to your
mom or dad about this.
How can I learn more about my parent’s
illness?
Ask questions about your parent's
cancer. No question is silly or dumb.
Some people might tell you about someone
they know who has cancer. There are many
types of cancer, so listening to what
others tell you may be more confusing.
Talk to your parents if you have questions.
You might want to come with your mom or
dad to the hospital and meet the people
that are helping take care of your mom
or dad.
What can I do to help?
This is a time where everyone
in the family needs to help. Your first
job is school. But, there might be other
things you can do to help at home. Your
family might choose to sit down and list
all the things that need to get done.
Then, each person can sign up for what
he or she can do best.
How will my parent’s illness
affect school?
It is likely that your parent(s)
will need to let someone at school know
what is happening to your family. You
might want kids in your class to know,
or you might not. It is important to talk
to your parents about this. Sometimes
if you are having a hard day, it helps
to know there at people at school you
can talk to.
Do you have a list of websites,
books, and other resources on helping
kids cope?
Information Finder
on Helping Kids Cope
You may also be interested in
other topics:
Revised 2008
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