Parental reports of changes and challenges that result from parenting a child with cancer*1

Abstract

Cancer in a child leads to a more stressful family life, including problems in adjusting to the situation. The aim of this study was to identify the parents' experience of problems related to their child's/adolescent's cancer and the effect of those problems on the parents' life situation. Swedish parents of 15 children and adolescents with varying diagnoses and treatments were interviewed using qualitative methods. The interview data were analyzed by two researchers using a constant comparative method. The results included eight categories of problems influencing the parents' life situation: watching our child suffer; being governed by our child's disease; behaving differently as a family member; experiencing strong feelings and reactions; trying to cope; dealing with the reactions of others; finding support from others; and evaluating the quality of care. Seven of these categories validate previously reported parental concerns, but one, evaluating the quality of care, has not been previously reported. Study findings can be used to help sensitize health care personnel to the problems experienced by parents of children and adolescents with cancer and the capacity parents have to deal with the problems.