These are two great tips for parents who have cancer.
I moderated a panel this weekend about parenting through cancer and was honored to be on the stage with Jeff Hlaveck, founder of the Pickles Group, and renowned patient advocate Jill Feldman. Both are cancer survivors and parents. What were my takeaways? (1) Control the message. Share with your friends and family how you are speaking with your kids about your cancer, so they are using similar language and approaches. This creates a more cohesive support system for your child. (2) This doesn't ever get easier for children - keep the dialogue open. Through remission or loss, a parent's cancer weighs on them - every single day. Let's keep talking about parental cancer and the importance of caring for kids.