Our mission is founded on the idea that “we all become a little stronger, work a little harder, and find courage when we are surrounded by love and support.”
It’s more than just a feel-good thought. Studies, time and time again, show that outcomes for patients improve when they have a strong support network around them. While most of these studies focus on adult women, the same can be said for children with cancer.
Medicine and technology have grown increasingly advanced in the last few years — not to mention the last century. Where cancer was once a death sentence, we see survival rates increasing exponentially each year. Treatment has become less about delaying the inevitable and more about seeing true recovery and real quality of life in cancer patients — both current and in remission.
A key to increasing the quality of life for cancer patients is in meeting psychosocial needs.
A report by The Institute of Medicine, Cancer Care for the Whole Patient: Meeting Psychosocial Health Needs, states that psychosocial care "...addresses the emotional challenges that can accompany a serious illness as well as the life challenges that can prevent good health care and patients' ability to take care of themselves…”
Support is empowering. When patients have a sense of community and belonging, not only does the quality of life improve, but so do the chances for positive outcomes. A community — friends, family, support groups — all contribute to feelings of increased agency in decision-making, a sense of hope, and reduced stress. Stress itself can interfere with the quality of life and one’s physical wellbeing. Emotional fulfillment increases as a sense of isolation decreases.
While there are obvious medical and financial needs that are top-of-mind when dealing with a cancer diagnosis, cancer patients — kids especially — need peer support. They need their communities. Social support is so necessary.
That support can take many forms. Due to increasing hospital restrictions and visitation guidelines, that support needs to be more creative than ever! A phone call, companionship for an appointment, gifts and cards, face-time, and playing games together — these are all forms of social support.
Cancer impacts relationships. For children, this may be less evident. However, going through treatment and being isolated from friends and school can bring up feelings of loneliness. Teenagers may feel stifled by their need to rely on their family where their peers are rebelling and finding newfound freedoms.
Self-image and self-worth can suffer. Sadness, uncertainty, and fear are all common emotions. Thus, support is that much more necessary! These meaningful relationships establish a sense of normalcy and strengthen positive bonds. For the cancer patient, these reliable constants — good relationships — are key in combating the stress and anxiety of dealing with the unknowns that come with cancer treatment.
This support must extend throughout one’s diagnosis, treatment, and remission. After all, surviving childhood cancer is an utterly unique situation that few outside of it can begin to understand. Both children facing cancer and their parents must connect to a support network.
For children, talking to and forming bonds with other child cancer patients can be empowering. They can encourage one another on their journey, celebrate success and milestones, and be a support during tough times. As the child gets older, lending advice and comfort to younger patients can be a source of gratitude and improved wellbeing.
These support groups offer a space for children and their parents to grieve, vent, and learn together while establishing meaningful social bonds. Because cancer is such a unique experience for both the patient and their families, these support groups, be they in-person or online, can offer a sense of real, true understanding and support.
The research is clear: when a cancer patient has a strong network of love and support, their outcomes improve. Kids need a team. They need people to cheer them on, encourage them, and watch them cross every finish line along their journey. This sense of community means that children with cancer are seen, loved, and supported beyond their medical care.
If we’re going to kick cancer, we’ve got to do it together!
For families wrestling with the challenges of childhood cancer, it is especially important that their network— friends, other family members, and community organizations — comes around them to rally not just verbal support, but tangible, meaningful care.
Cancer at any age can be a terrifying and isolating experience. The response by the community makes all the difference in the world! It’s understandable to feel helpless when we want to lend a hand. We don’t always know where to start. Even though your efforts may seem small or inadequate, know this: they do a world of good for the wellbeing of the families you care for.
Maybe you don’t know how best to help or the parents themselves don’t know what they need. Every family is going to have different needs and preferences for the help they receive, but don’t allow anything to stand between you and supporting families facing childhood cancer. Here are some meaningful ways to help!