“It’s such a difficult thing to explain to any family member but most especially children,” Dr. Karen E. Knudsen, the CEO of the American Cancer Society, told The Post. “It’s a really challenging thing to disclose to them. I think it’s a highly personal disclosure.”
It’s “going to be OK.”
Kate Middleton has revealed that she gently informed her three children of her cancer diagnosis in an “appropriate way” and reassured them that she is “going to be OK.”
In a video message, the Princess of Wales said she needed time to come to terms with her condition and share the news with her children, Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 8, and Prince Louis, 5, before telling the world.
“It’s such a difficult thing to explain to any family member but most especially children,” Dr. Karen E. Knudsen, the CEO of the American Cancer Society, told The Post. “It’s a really challenging thing to disclose to them. I think it’s a highly personal disclosure.”
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. About 1.9 million new cancer diagnoses and 609,360 cancer-related deaths are expected to occur in the US in 2022 — about 1,670 deaths a day — according to the American Cancer Society.
Knudsen said the ACS provides “guidance for individuals to talk to their family members and caregivers” since “seeking counseling support, psychosocial support for families has been shown to be very helpful in these types of scenarios.”When do I tell my child someone they love has been diagnosed with cancer?
“It’s important for communication with children to be done in a timely manner,” Elizabeth Farrell, lead clinical social worker Dana-Farber Cancer, told The Post.
She recommends having a conversation “as soon as you have the information, you’ve had a little bit of time to absorb it yourself, and you’ve been able to get clarity around what’s going on, what it’s going to entail and the treatment of your cancer.
