Ep13: Talking to Kids about Cancer - Part 2

So you’ve told your kids about your cancer. Now what? Who else in their life do you tell? Can the kids tell their mates? Do their teachers need to know? What other info do the kids need to know? Glynn and Jaz share the ways their parenting approach had to shift at times. They discuss practical things they did to allow life to be as normal as possible whilst also protecting Glynn’s struggling immune system.

Mentioned...

-Camp Quality (https://www.campquality.org.au/) who provide programs and services to young people and their families for free, including free accommodation around Australia to help families reconnect.

- Caring Kids (https://caringkids.org.au/caringkids-toy-box/) is the organisation that send out joy boxes to young carers of cancer patients.

-The Cancer Council has some great resources on talking to young people about cancer, specifically, at this link: (https://www.cancervic.org.au/cancer-information/children-teens-and-young-adults/talking-to-kids-about-cancer/overview.html)

Canteen is another great resource for supporting young people affected by cancer and has some helpful information that can assist young people in adjusting to a parental cancer diagnosis. (https://www.canteen.org.au/young-people/parent-carer-cancer)

Books discussed in this episode include ‘Hey Warrior: A Book for Kids About Anxiety’ by Karen Young. This is an excellent read that discusses the mind and brain when kids (actually, grown ups too) are anxious. Karen Young has also written ‘Hey Awesome’, which is worth a read. We also chat about ‘The Invisible’ String by Patrice Kast and ‘The Memory Tree’ by Britta Teckentrup - Both beautiful kids books about grief.

We would love to hear from you if this episode resonated with you, if you have questions, or if you just want to let us know you’re listening. You can email us at hello@chemotionalrollercoaster.com

New episodes of Chemotional Rollercoaster are published weekly, on Wednesdays, Australian Eastern Time.

Lastly, Chemotional Rollercoaster is not a substitute for seeking one’s own professional advice. The strategies and skills discussed in all Chemotional Rollercoaster episodes are either what has worked for Glynn or his guests, specifically, or are things discussed in a general way. Anyone who is dealing with their own health issues, mental or physical, should seek their own professional advice on what may help to support them, uniquely. If anyone is struggling, and needs to talk, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

If you do want to access a psychologist for you or your kids, seeing your GP or family doctor for a referral is an excellent place to start.

Thanks go out to Rory Chambers, as always, for his music featured in this episode (info@rorychambers.com).

Chemotional Rollercoaster is presented by Glynn Chambers

Production, sound and editing by Rose Paton

Music by Rory Chambers ©2024 info@rorychambers.com

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