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I am putting together a resource guide for teachers and parents in our area. If anyone has suggestions I would appreciate it.

Thanks,
Kaye

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What a fabulous idea! I, unfortunately, don't have children. Nieces and nephews...but none of my own, so I'm not much help here. Great idea...I'm sure you'll get lot's of help on this.

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Regarding talking to your children about cancer I have found. There is a good book called talking 'When a Parent is Sick Helping Parents Explain Serious Illness to Children' by Joan Hamilton.

There are several good resources available from the Princess Margaret Family Library.

There are two good childrens programs offered at Gilda's Club and Wellspring as well. Where play is used as a learning tool to help reduce the impact and fear associated with cancer and illness. They also both have resource libraries. Willow likely has some good information as well. You can fine all the contact information on the Breast Cancer Survivorship Website www.survivorship.ca

Talking with Children usually requires some consideration to their ages and there ways of coping.

I hope this is helpful. You can contact the Family Library at 416-946-4501 ext. 5383 and they can let you know about materials and information they have.

Scott

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I was 30 yrs old with a 6 and 5 yr old when I received my first cancer dx. The one thing we learned (the hard way) is that children hear and understand far more than we give them credit for. The also are very good at makin up what they don't understand. 20 yrs ago there were not the resources for parents or patients that we have now.

We did the best we could explaining to our young children that mummy was sick with cancer and would have to go to the hospital a lot. The hospital was very good about letting my young children come to treatments/visits to see exactly what was being done to their mum.

Cancer is no longer a hidden word in many households, and it shouldn't be. Good luck with putting together resources for parents/children.

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Hi All:

I was diagnosed with breast cancer at 32 and my son was 3. I attended a conference in the Philadelphia that the Young Survival Coalition and Living Beyond Breast Cancer put on. I bought a couple of books there. One is called "Sammy's Mommy has Breast Cancer". It was a perfect book to read to my son and showed pictures of Sammy's "Mommy" with a kerchief and even bald in some illustrations. It discussed the special medicine that Mommy was taking. I will post the author as well as the name of the other book. I was most concerned when I lost my hair that my son would be affected but in the end he took it all in stride and I was worried for nothing. He liked rubbing my bald head and we all got a real kick out of Mommy's wig - especially when him and my husband would put it on and act silly. I guess the most important thing is that this book opened the lines of communication so that if he had questions he could ask them.

Allison

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