Helping Your Child Cope with Leukemia

Learning that your child has been diagnosed with leukemia is every parent's worst nightmare. Try to put your own fears aside, however, and start helping your child cope with leukemia. Many children -- even the young ones -- are able to understand the specifics of their disease. Although there is currently no cure for leukemia, researchers and doctors have made startling advances in treatment, so don't give up hope just yet. Helping your child to cope with leukemia will make the entire situation easier on the whole family.

Collect Information
Your first step in helping your child cope with leukemia should be to find out everything you can about the disease. In addition to asking your child's doctor important questions, take a trip to your local library and start reading up. You can also use the Internet as a source of information, but make sure you've got accurate facts. Websites like WebMD.com, Leukemia.org and Cancer.gov are great resources for factual information.

Share Information
After you've gotten a handle on the specifics of leukemia, share that information with your child. If he or she doesn't understand the disease, it will be harder to cope and to sustain the treatment necessary. Talk about the different aspects of the disease as well as medications, treatment options and side effects. You might also talk to your doctor about procuring literature about leukemia, such as magazines and books, that are directed toward a younger audience. The more information your child has, the easier he or she will be able to handle what lies ahead.

Tour the Hospital
Most children who have leukemia will spend a significant amount of time at your local hospital, so get your child familiar with his or her surroundings. Introduce your child to the nurses and doctors with whom he or she will be working and show your child where playrooms, restrooms and waiting rooms are located. This will help your child to cope with leukemia because he or she won't feel uncomfortable while undergoing treatment. Hospitals don't have to be scary places, so emphasize the fact that the hospital will help your child feel better.