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How to Create a Happy Environment For a Child Battling Cancer
Dec 05, 2022
Cancer can be a hostile intruder in a child’s life, robbing them of normal childhood experiences. And yet, in the face of treatments, hospital stays and school sabbaticals, you can hold a candle to celebrating the little moments, uplifting your child and raising them up in their battle with the disease. Here are some ways you can help your child.
Promote a positive self-image
Treatment for cancer can cause weight fluctuations, hair loss, and pallid skin, amongst other visible ill effects. While you can’t mute out these changes for your child, you can take steps to help them cope better.
Deal with hair loss gently and thoughtfully
If your child’s hair has started falling out, plan a fun little shopping trip for them to try out caps, hats, or wigs that mirror their natural hair colour. Cutting their hair short in anticipation of hair loss can further soften the blow.
Celebrate your child’s skin
Treatments for childhood cancer can take a toll on your child’s skin, leaving it looking pale and sallow. Child-friendly pick-me-ups like soothing moisturiser or tinted lip balm can act as comforting antidotes, helping to boost your child’s self-esteem.
Embrace weight fluctuations
Weight gains and losses are an inevitable outcome of cancer treatments. Speak to a dietitian to learn about healthy meal planning, conducive activity routines and physical changes to expect. By staying prepared, you can prime yourself for the future, and give your child rock-solid support for what’s to come.
Build a cocoon of kindred spirits
It’s natural for your child to feel like they’re being left behind as their friends move on and explore new horizons. Help them feel involved by arranging meet-ups, and encouraging them to stay in touch with old friends. While in treatment, it’s likely that your child will also make new, like-minded friends on a similar journey. You’ll find plenty of support groups both online and in person. Ask your hospital for referrals to know about support in your city.
Be open to discussing feelings
By encouraging your child to discuss their feelings, you can create a positive, no-holds-barred environment for sharing and introspection. Find conducive avenues for your child to channel their emotions. Sketching, colouring, writing, meditation, poetry and music are all wonderful windows with which your child can see the world through a whole new lens.
Watch for signs of anxiety or depression
The journey to recovery can be hard work for a child and it’s important to be watchful for signs of depression. While it’s entirely normal for your child to experience blue spells on some days, depression can appear as a more enduring condition. Some signs include no longer enjoying previously preferred activities, changes in eating or sleeping patterns, an inability to concentrate, discussions about suicide or death, and feelings of worthlessness, anxiety, sadness or lethargy.
Bring in a sense of normalcy
A hospital setting can be upsetting, especially for a child stationed in a hospital room for treatment around the clock. It’s important to give your child a sense of normalcy, familiarity and comfort. Bring little bits of home to the hospital—treasured photos, stuffed toys, special gifts and uplifting tokens from friends and family can serve as meaningful emblems of love and belonging. Seek permission to personalise your child’s hospital room with pictures, artwork and tchotchkes (Blu Tac is a great way to put things up temporarily without leaving behind any residue).
While a pediatric oncologist and their team can provide medical treatment that may lead your child’s body to recovery, a happy, uplifting environment consciously created by you as parents can work wonders for their soul. It’s up to you to shine the light, and bridge the gap between hospital and home
Promote a positive self-image
Treatment for cancer can cause weight fluctuations, hair loss, and pallid skin, amongst other visible ill effects. While you can’t mute out these changes for your child, you can take steps to help them cope better.
Deal with hair loss gently and thoughtfully
If your child’s hair has started falling out, plan a fun little shopping trip for them to try out caps, hats, or wigs that mirror their natural hair colour. Cutting their hair short in anticipation of hair loss can further soften the blow.
Celebrate your child’s skin
Treatments for childhood cancer can take a toll on your child’s skin, leaving it looking pale and sallow. Child-friendly pick-me-ups like soothing moisturiser or tinted lip balm can act as comforting antidotes, helping to boost your child’s self-esteem.
Embrace weight fluctuations
Weight gains and losses are an inevitable outcome of cancer treatments. Speak to a dietitian to learn about healthy meal planning, conducive activity routines and physical changes to expect. By staying prepared, you can prime yourself for the future, and give your child rock-solid support for what’s to come.
Build a cocoon of kindred spirits
It’s natural for your child to feel like they’re being left behind as their friends move on and explore new horizons. Help them feel involved by arranging meet-ups, and encouraging them to stay in touch with old friends. While in treatment, it’s likely that your child will also make new, like-minded friends on a similar journey. You’ll find plenty of support groups both online and in person. Ask your hospital for referrals to know about support in your city.
Be open to discussing feelings
By encouraging your child to discuss their feelings, you can create a positive, no-holds-barred environment for sharing and introspection. Find conducive avenues for your child to channel their emotions. Sketching, colouring, writing, meditation, poetry and music are all wonderful windows with which your child can see the world through a whole new lens.
Watch for signs of anxiety or depression
The journey to recovery can be hard work for a child and it’s important to be watchful for signs of depression. While it’s entirely normal for your child to experience blue spells on some days, depression can appear as a more enduring condition. Some signs include no longer enjoying previously preferred activities, changes in eating or sleeping patterns, an inability to concentrate, discussions about suicide or death, and feelings of worthlessness, anxiety, sadness or lethargy.
Bring in a sense of normalcy
A hospital setting can be upsetting, especially for a child stationed in a hospital room for treatment around the clock. It’s important to give your child a sense of normalcy, familiarity and comfort. Bring little bits of home to the hospital—treasured photos, stuffed toys, special gifts and uplifting tokens from friends and family can serve as meaningful emblems of love and belonging. Seek permission to personalise your child’s hospital room with pictures, artwork and tchotchkes (Blu Tac is a great way to put things up temporarily without leaving behind any residue).
While a pediatric oncologist and their team can provide medical treatment that may lead your child’s body to recovery, a happy, uplifting environment consciously created by you as parents can work wonders for their soul. It’s up to you to shine the light, and bridge the gap between hospital and home
Dr.SANDHYA VADDADI
Consultant Hematology & Oncology MBBS,MD Paediatrics
Rainbow Children’s Hospital & BirthRigh, Banjara Hills.
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