The life situation of parents over the first year after their child's cancer diagnosis

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the impact of childhood cancer on the life of the parents.

Method: A 1-y follow-up study, with two time points for questionnaires, was completed in 21 out of 26 eligible families, and there were 46 control families matched by mothers' educational status.

Results: Half of the mothers worked outside home during the first year of their child's illness. The perceived amount of lost family income was high during the first few months. The attitudes of the parents were fairly positive as their family life and spouse relations were concerned. Feelings of being under strain or stressed were, by the mothers, described as intolerable in the beginning. However, standardized anxiety assessment failed to show an increase in feelings of anxiety. Own health was rated significantly negative by cancer parents.

Conclusions: Despite good family relationships, a need for supportive measures exists, especially during the first few months, and in-depth interviews by psychologists or special nurses might be a way of finding out possible anxiety. The perceived feelings of own health may also be an indicator of the level of distress. Parent support groups could also do more to offer opportunities of physical activities for the parents, not merely disease-related information and group discussions.