A Handbook For Parents of Children With Cancer

When a child is first diagnosed with cancer, it is a shock.  Parents are given information about drug treatment protocols, side effects, what to look out for, and are introduced to all sorts of different terminology.  In addition to having to absorb the fact that their child's life is threatened, they and other family members have much to cope with and try to understand. 

When Ken and I were first told of Sian's illness, we had little reference material to explain what to expect.  This text is an attempt to help other parents with some basic information, and some contacts where you may be able to find more information. 

Much of the text was put together originally by the nurses of the Paediatric Oncology Group, a group of some 60 or more hospitals (of which the Montreal Children's Hospital and Hospital For Sick Children are members) which share information about treatment and protocols.  If you can suggest other topics which might be of help to readers, please contact us at: