[Family-oriented management of children and adolescents with cancer]

Abstract

Cancer disease in a child almost implies an existential threat to all members of the family and a change in the accustomed way of life. It threatens children and adolescents at no matter which stage of development and influences their growth of development. It was realized very late, that the "healthy" family members are also affected and suffer from a double burden: at the same time they have to cope with their own concerns and give the sick child the necessary support as well. Acause to that psychosocial support systems were established in Pediatric Oncology; they orientate themselves by the needs of the entire family and work with an interdisciplinary method. A family-orientated-rehabilitation was drafted against this background. This allows all family members a physical, psychological and social rehabilitation within a four-week period. The study follows a prospective control group design on 104 families, the effect of this family-orientated rehabilitation has been evaluated. The results show a clear and significant reduction in the severity of physical and psychological symptoms of the patients as well as parents and siblings. Moreover the family rehabilitation offers the opportunity to built up resources and to meet new as a family.