Rittenberg C N
Ochsner Cancer Institute, New Orleans, LA 70121, USA.
Support Care Cancer. 1996 May;4(3):196-9. doi: 10.1007/BF01682340.
A cancer diagnosis impacts the entire family unit, but children are especially vulnerable. In the past, families and professionals did not share information or allow for children to express their feelings or to be involved. Children have the right to know and the need to know the truth. Interventions should be based on both the developmental stage of the child and the stage of the illness. Approaches by disease phase and developmental stage are discussed. Goals include maintaining family stability, preparing children for what may happen, allowing for flexible communication, and preventing serious psychosocial sequelae.
