Psychosocial Impact of Cancer Survival on School-Age Children and Their Parents

Abstract

Data for this study on the experience of surviving childhood cancer were collected in interviews with 118 school-age and early adolescent children who were long-term survivors of cancer and 120 of their parents. Forty percent of the children's statements were "positive" and 60 percent were negative. The children's negative responses included health concerns and physical, school, social, emotional, and family difficulties. Because the parents presented dichotomous views (76 percent positive and 79 percent negative), both answers were counted. The parents were grateful that their children had survived, but they were concerned about the recurrence of cancer and their child's adjustment to impairments caused by the disease or its treatment. The findings highlight the importance of continuing to develop clinical strategies to address the problems identified in this study.