Children from 6 to 9 years old
What is cancer?
Many many questions
Nobody can answer this question. But just like it is not your fault, it is not your dad’s or mum’s fault either. Getting cancer is just bad luck, sheer bad luck.
That´s another question that can go through your head. Maybe one day you were very cross with your mum or dad, or said something bad or your mum or dad tripped over your bike. Of course that´s upsetting, but nobody gets cancer from that. That’s why cancer is NOT your fault!
Some people die because of cancer, but there are also people who get better. You shouldn’t forget that there are a lot of different sorts of cancer. Would you like to know how cancer is treated? Have a look at operations, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and other treatments.
Cancer comes from the Latin word “cancer” that means crab or lobster. A tumour or cancerous tumour is usually not round, but looks like a little ball with little bits sticking out. When they discovered cancer and saw a little ball like that with bits sticking out it reminded them of a crab or a lobster.
Cancer has existed for a long time. Two and a half thousand years ago they already tried to find out about the disease and in Egypt when they did excavations they found mummies of people who had died of cancer. Cancer is really a very old illness.
Some children think that cancer is catching, but that is NOT true. So you can give mum or dad a kiss or a hug just like usual! And oh, don´t forget to tell that to your friends, because sometimes they also think that cancer is catching.
Yes, but children don´t get cancer as often as, for instance, grandfathers, grandmothers, fathers, and mothers. If you stand 1000 people in a row who have cancer, then 994 of them are grown-ups and only 6 are children.
Yes, animals can also get cancer. Just like the human body, an animal´s body is made up of cells. These cells can also get ill.
A tumour is another word for a clump of sick cells. Some people talk about a lump or a swelling. Beware: not every lump or swelling is cancer. Some lumps or bulges are good (benign). When we talk about cancer we mean a bad (malignant) lump or swelling.
Sick cells can wander throughout the body. On the spot where the cancer cells end up a new tumour can grow. That is what we call metastasis or the cancer spreads.
There are over a 100 different sorts of cancer. Every sort has another name. There is breast cancer, bowel cancer, lung cancer, skin cancer, a brain tumor, blood cancer (leukemia), and so on.
Tests
Treatment
Changes
What about you?
School
What helps?
Talk about cancer
The future
Fortunately, many parents get better again. The cancer stays away and the unpleasant time of hospital, treatments and being sad is over.
Some parents have been changed by the cancer and the treatments. They are missing a breast, have a scar or a stoma. Others have to do exercises every day to get stronger again. Sometimes you don’t notice anything on the outside, but there is still a lot of worry going on. Then your father or mother goes for a walk, cycle, work in the garden or make sculptures. Or they go and talk to someone. Because that helps. But of course you know that too.
Of course, your father or mother still has to go to the hospital every now and then to see if everything continues to go well. But that too diminishes after a while. The cancer becomes a memory. Maybe you’ll think about it again later, maybe you won’t. Everything is good.
If mom or dad doesn’t get better
If it is not possible to get rid of the cancer, there are often medications that ensure that the cancer cells remain silent for a while. And when those medicines no longer work, there are sometimes new medicines available. So the cancer cells may remain there, but not grow or change. So your mom or dad can live for a very long time!
The cancer cells must of course be closely monitored. So your mom or dad will have to go to the hospital every now and then. And maybe your mom or dad is no longer in great shape. Being tired and sad is also part of it because it is quite strange to know that those cancer cells do not go away.
When mom or dad dies
Sometimes a person is so sick that the doctor thinks he or she will die soon. You will feel angry, sad and scared. You may have all kinds of questions, such as when your mom or dad will die and how that will happen. Talk about it with your parents or the doctor.
It’s nice to keep doing things. You can make a wish jar or an idea box with notes of things you would like to do together, such as baking cookies or reading in the big bed. Maybe you can take a selfie or video as a memory.
If mom or dad is in severe pain and is confused or scared, the doctor can give medication to ensure that your dad or mom no longer feels anything and goes to sleep. If you want to say something or give a hug, do so before the doctor gives these medications. It may take a few days for your mom or dad to die.
A dying person sleeps more and more and needs less and less food and drink. Maybe you want to lie next to mom or dad for a while, or you hope it will be over soon. It's not strange if you think this. It's just hard when someone you love dies. Maybe you want to say something, do some crafts or write something. Or especially cuddle a lot.
Some dads or moms are so sick that they no longer want to continue living. They ask the doctor to help them die. Maybe you don't understand it, but really, your mom or dad loves you very much. And yet it doesn't work anymore. Give one last hug or kiss. The doctor first gives you an injection of medicine that makes your mom or dad fall very deeply asleep. Then a medicine that causes the heart to stop beating.
After mom or dad dies, there will be a funeral or cremation. Maybe you want to write something about mom or dad or paint the coffin. Maybe you want to make music or sing. Maybe you don't want these kinds of things. It may take a while before you notice that you are doing better again.