Children With Cancer – How We Can Improve Their Quality Of Life

Children with cancer are an unthinkable scenario for most people, but every year 900 children under the age of 15 are diagnosed with cancer. Fortunately, medical advances allow for an extended lifespan. But it is not just important to cure the disease. It is also important to be aware of the children’s quality of life.

The side effects of the disease and the treatments involved must be in focus. For this reason, it is important to gather the most effective psychological techniques to reduce suffering. It is also advisable to know what the most appropriate measures to reduce anxiety and depression in children are. We must always try to improve the quality of life. Both during the disease process and in remission.

Children with cancer – How does this disease affect them?

Children with cancer suffer from as many physical symptoms as psychological. Among the physical symptoms are vomiting, weight loss, fatigue, etc. On an emotional level, children with cancer experience emotions such as rage, fear, loneliness and anxiety .

Depending on the age at which the diagnosis is made, the disease can manifest itself in different ways. Among younger children, what stands out is a pain and fear of being separated from their parents. In older children, one can see that feelings of loneliness begin to arise. Teenagers experience a fear of dying and stress related to the physical changes they undergo.

Pain is one of the most common concerns. This pain may be due to the disease itself or may be due to medical procedures. For example, bone marrow tests and biopsies are very painful and require frequent procedures.

Children with cancer must also be subjected to procedures such as radiation therapy, chemotherapy or frequent blood tests, which are considered to be even more painful than the actual disease. In addition, sleep disorders, fatigue, anxiety, depression and social problems are also quite common.

Psychological intervention in children with cancer

Finding out about the diagnosis generates a very strong psychological impact on the family. After this, the question arises whether to let the child know about the diagnosis or not. In these cases, consulting a specialist about what to do and how to do it can help both the family and the child.

The effects of the disease, the characteristics of the treatment and its evolution, as well as feelings of insecurity, tend to cause many questions that need answers. Psychological intervention can help find the answers or at least show how to deal with situations as they arise.

Here is a set of treatments that have proven their effectiveness on several occasions. To make it easier to understand, we break down the main symptoms we mentioned above with their usual treatments.

• Reduction of nausea and vomiting – Progressive muscle relaxation with guided images, hypnosis and systematic desensitization.
• Pain control – Distraction, use of imagination, breathing and relaxation training, positive reinforcement, musical therapy or hypnosis.
• Fatigue reduction –  Distraction and planning of activities based on priority.
• Treatment of anxiety – Breathing and relaxation techniques, visualization of pleasant scenes, reinforcement of appropriate behavior, differential reinforcement and positive self-verbalization.
• Treatment of depression – Emotional training, enjoyable activities and cognitive restructuring.

To adapt to a new life after overcoming the cancer

The current survival rate for children with cancer is almost 80%. This is a hopeful piece of data, and science wants to reach 100% through advances in various types of treatments. But does it really mean to be a cancer survivor ?

Cancer is a disease that, among other things, is characterized by long periods of hospitalization. The youngest stop going to school, can barely see or spend time with their peers or teachers, and contact with the outside world is minimal. This makes their social circle very small. Thus, they may go through some difficulties when the time comes to return to society.

Getting back to their classmates

Going back to school, for example, is a complicated process. Both children and parents will manifest fear. On the one hand, children will not be separated from their parents and may have certain concerns regarding the physical changes (alopecia, amputations, etc.). On the other hand , parents are afraid that their child will be rejected by their peers. Parents also worry that a child may be affected by diseases that will worsen their health again.

In these cases, it is advisable to provide useful information to the child and the whole family, and also to the teachers who will be responsible for the situation. Reintroduction leads to an adaptation process that requires time.

Some interventions have been shown to be effective, such as holding meetings with school staff to inform them about the illness and treatment, performing preliminary activities to prepare the child to return to school, or making presentations in front of the rest of the children to help them understand the disease and the needs of the newcomer.

To conclude, through psychological help and without forgetting interdisciplinary intervention with other professionals, we can give children with cancer and their families a better quality of life in this difficult process.