How do I tell my son he has cancer?

It is important that you talk to your child about the truth about his or her illness and the treatments he or she will receive, this will always keep him or her confident and also help him or her better follow his or her treatment.

Children, depending on their age, see and understand things differently. Here are some important features that can help you:

0 to 3 years

Cognitive development: Does not understand very specific or complex explanations and is unable to express feelings verbally.

What to say to him? He does not need much information, but he does require you to be with him or her throughout the process, to embrace him, to play, to give him much affection, patience and to perceive as much tranquility as possible.

From 3 to 5 years

Cognitive development: He understands very simple explanations and is unable to express feelings verbally.

What to say to him? "We are in the hospital to help you feel better, they will give you some very powerful medicines, they will go through a tube (catheter). I'll be with you. "

5 onwards

Cognitive development: Understands simple explanations and expresses feelings verbally.

What to say to him? "You've been feeling bad lately, haven't you? That's why we're here to get you treated with powerful medicines. We're going to have to be coming, but I'm going to be with you and we can bring toys. " You have to help him identify what he feels and support him to express it.

8 onwards

Cognitive development: Understand more complete explanations and express specific feelings and fears, such as fear of pain or death.

What to say to him? "All the studies that have done you show that you have a disease called cancer and it needs a very specific treatment, we don't know why it appeared, but how to fight it. So we will be here to give you the treatment called chemotherapy (radiation therapy, etc.); a combination of powerful medicines that will put you with a tube (catheter). I will be with you, and whatever you need to know we can ask the doctors and all the people who are here to help us. "

16 onwards

Cognitive development: Understand explanations, express specific feelings and fears.

What to say to him? Explanations equal to those given to an adult. You have to find out what you want and need to know, and provide you with all the information. In addition, we can support you with the management of your emotions and respect your autonomy at all times. If this text has been useful to you or someone and you want to keep reading more about how to manage the situation of a child with cancer, it gives clic here,to see some advice from our psychologists.