Cancer and the Family
Some Things You Should Know
Any illness changes family life for a while. A parent or a brother or sister
who is home sick with the flu can't spend as much time with the family as
usual. The sick person may get special attention, and you may need to help
around the house. But most times, the person is not sick for very long, and
family life soon goes back to normal.
But when someone has cancer, it is different. He or she needs special medical
treatment and may go to the hospital or clinic a lot. People in the family may
worry. They worry for the person who has cancer and for themselves. Cancer is a
serious illness, and it can be scary if you don't know for sure if the person
will get well or not.
People in your family may react differently. They may be afraid or angry that
their life has changed. They may be tired, or they may be nervous about the
future. They may be tense and not as easy to talk to as before, because they
are worried. Some people may go on just as if nothing has happened, and they
may not seem different at all. If you are upset, you may wonder if they care
about the family member who has cancer. It's important to remember that each
person reacts in his or her own way. You may get mad at other members of your
family for the way they are acting. It is better to talk with them than to stay
mad. If you talk, you can understand why they are acting that way.
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More people are living with cancer now than ever before, and new ways to treat
cancer are being discovered.
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Having cancer doesn't necessarily mean a person will die from it.
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Nothing you did or didn't do caused your family member to get cancer.
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Nothing you thought or said caused your family member to get cancer.
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Cancer is not contagious-you can't catch it from someone else or give it to
anyone else.
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You or your parents could not have protected your brother or sister from
getting cancer.
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If someone in your family has cancer, that doesn't mean that you or anyone else
in your family also will get it.
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Nobody can tell you why your parent or brother or sister is sick, and you're
healthy.
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The way you behave cannot change the fact that someone has cancer or that your
family is upset.
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It is good for you to continue with school and outside activities.
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