How to Explain Chemo to Kids
Explaining chemotherapy to children can seem daunting because relatives and loved ones do not want to scare or worry them. The easiest approach to explaining chemo is to be honest and empathetic. Whether it is the child or a family member who may be receiving chemo, it is important that the child is emotionally supported and aware of what is happening. However, depending on the age of the child, excessive detail may be unnecessary. It may be easiest to simplify your explanation of chemo to the basic essentials that your child will understand, including the what, why, how, where and when of chemotherapy.
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Instructions
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What
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Provide your child with a basic understanding of cancer. Explain that cancer is a disease that can affect the small cells of the body, expanding upon the specific type of cancer that the child or a loved one is facing. For young children, cancer can be compared to less severe sicknesses and colds that harm our body.
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Offer your child a basic definition of what chemotherapy is. Explain that chemo is a treatment for cancer.
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Use age-appropriate terms and comparisons that your child will understand. For younger children, explain that pills and IVs are used the same way shots and other treatments are used when they are sick.
Why
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Explain to your child that we don't know what causes cancer. Remind them that our bodies have different weaknesses that may or may not surface in different people.
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Ensure that your child does not blame himself or another family member for the cancer. Although some people may develop cancer after exposure to certain toxins, remind them that everyone gets sick at some point during their lives.
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Inform your child that chemotherapy is one of many treatments that is frequently recommended by doctors and used to treat cancer. Although it has other side effects, it is one of the more successful treatment methods available.
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Use a Kimmie doll to demonstrate side effects of chemotherapy like hair loss. Kimmie dolls have detachable hair and hair coverings that can be used to help young children understand the effects of chemo.
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Inform the child of how life may change. Provide calming family activities that offer opportunities for family bonding and support. Encourage older children to be involved in activities at home by giving them special responsibilities.
How
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Tell your child how chemotherapy works by explaining the treatment process. It can be very helpful and reassuring for a child to have an existing understanding of what chemotherapy involves before treatment starts.
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Explain that chemotherapy will work to destroy bad cells in the body, but may hurt some other cells in the process. It is a very strong and special medicine used specifically to treat cancer.
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Remind your child that even though some negative side effects may be seen, this proves that the medicine is doing its job.
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Outline the basics of what the treatment plan entails. For younger children, games and pretend play can help them understand how chemotherapy works. Parents can play doctor with their preschoolers to teach them how medical professionals work to make their patients heal and get better.
Where
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Tell your child where the chemotherapy treatments will take place.
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If chemotherapy treatments will be received at a nearby hospital, take your child to the hospital to have a tour and get to know the facility. Eat in the hospital cafeteria together. Provide opportunities for your child to become familiar with the staff and doctors.
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Give your child reading materials and books that specifically explain chemotherapy to children.
When
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Tell your child how frequently chemotherapy treatments will be held.
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Discuss how treatment might affect the family's school and work schedules.
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Ask your doctor about the average number of visits for the typical course of treatment and relay this information to your child.
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