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The diagnosis of cancer in a child is a family crisis. For many patients the diagnosis of a childhood cancer is perceived as a death sentence for the child. They first of all the feelings of shock, fear, numbness and disbelief. They often want to deny that such a thing has happened and run to different doctors with the hope of a different diagnosis. Similar situation prevails amongst close relatives and friends. About ten per cent of parents may even have high psychological distress.
The children may become feared of, for the peculiar circumstances prevailing in the home consequent to the diagnosis. Further, when they go through the hospital wards they may get frightened by seeing many children with bald heads, especially when they think that this is going to happen to themselves. When friends and relatives start to behave sympathetically to them, they may even get confused. |
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