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Woman being overwhelmed and feeling out of control with everything that is going on

Resources

Childhood cancer: Feeling out of control

As a parent of a child with cancer, it’s normal to feel out of control at times.

Managing medications, appointments, hospital visits, finances, work and the needs of other family members means there will be times when you feel overwhelmed.

Even though there are many challenges, big and small, there are still things you can do to feel more in control. Here are some practical strategies parents have shared with us.

Even short hospital stays can test us, and this is one of the places parents tell us they feel least in control.

One minute you’re really upset, then you’ve got one doctor going one way, another doctor doing this test, your head’s spinning.
Ryan

Here are some of the small, practical things parents shared that helped them gain a sense of control in hospital:

  • bringing things from home like favourite toys, blankets and pillows
  • keeping a bag packed with essentials by the door, ready for unexpected hospital visits
  • listening to music or podcasts while waiting
  • taking short breaks outside hospital when you can
  • writing down your thoughts and feelings in a notebook
  • connecting with a Redkite Social Worker by phone or email to talk through ways to make your hospital stays easier.

Cancer treatment involves a team of health professionals. Your child’s treatment team may include oncologists, surgeons, nurses, dietitians, physiotherapists and social workers, to name a few. Each of these health professionals will have information about your child’s treatment.

Keeping track of this information is one way to create a sense of control. Alongside pen and paper, here are some online tools you might find useful:

  • CancerAid: Tracks symptoms, side-effects and appointments, provides medical information and connects you with others going through cancer treatment.
  • CanTeen Connect for Parents: An online community where parents of young people with cancer talk with others and receive free professional counselling.
  • LivingWith: Tracks mood, pain levels and sleep, updates family and friends, stores treatment information and allows you to ask for support with daily tasks.
  • Cancer Terms Dictionary: Contains 1,500 common cancer-related terms, expressions and idioms without the unpredictability of Google search results.

At any stage of your child’s treatment, connecting with a Redkite Social Worker can be a way to regain a sense of control. Redkite Social Workers can work with you to find your strengths, sources of support, and strategies to make day-to-day life easier.

Here are some of the ways you can connect during your child’s treatment:

  • By phone or email: Sharing your experiences with a social worker by phone or email means you can connect at a time that works for you. Redkite offers phone support Monday to Friday, 9am – 7pm AEST, along with email support.
  • In person: You may find that talking with a social worker face-to-face is the best way to work through challenges and find sources of strength. Redkite offers face-to-face counselling in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or Perth.

  • National Carer Counselling program (NCCP): Offers short-term counselling specifically for carers in each state and territory.
  • CanTeen Connect for Parents: Offers free professional counselling online for those who sign up to this online community.
  • Cancer Council: Offers phone support Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm, along with email support.

More information

Relationships
15th May

Childhood cancer: A mother’s perspective

What happens to mothers when their child is diagnosed with cancer? While each story is different, below we’ve outlined some common experiences mothers can face throughout their child’s cancer experience.

Childhood cancer: A mother’s perspective

What happens to mothers when their child is diagnosed with cancer? While each story is different, below we’ve outlined some common experiences mothers can face throughout their child’s cancer experience.

Relationships
1st Oct

Telling people your child has cancer

Talking about cancer can be daunting. You may have fears about how people will react, and voicing it can make it feel more real somehow

Telling people your child has cancer

Talking about cancer can be daunting. You may have fears about how people will react, and voicing it can make it feel more real somehow

Relationships
2nd Sep

Other childhood cancer support services

A list of childhood cancer support services in Australia

Other childhood cancer support services

A list of childhood cancer support services in Australia

Adult mum and daughter hugging

Relationships
30th Sep

Managing family relationships

Going through cancer treatment can lead to some very positive experiences in relationships, but the stress can also cause immense strain.

Managing family relationships

Going through cancer treatment can lead to some very positive experiences in relationships, but the stress can also cause immense strain.