For Patients & Families

American Cancer Society, “Helping Children When a Family Member Has Cancer”
Several online guides on helping children understand and deal with cancer in another family member.

Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center: Marjorie E. Korff PACT (Parenting At a Challenging Time) Program
Provides psycho-educational support for parents who are patients and offers tips for communicating with children. The program aims to address the concerns that parents with cancer have about helping their children cope during the parent’s treatment.

National Cancer Institute, “When Your Parent Has Cancer: A Guide for Teens”
A guide for teens – shares experiences of other teens who have gone through similar experiences and prepares teens for some of the feelings they may face when their parent is going through cancer.
Lundbeck Canada “Someone in my family has cancer.”
Four-minute video that helps explain cancer to children and can be used as a conversation starter for parents and children.

Camp Kesem
Free summer camps for children who have been affected by a parent’s cancer.
Stupidcancer.org
“We offer a lifeline to the young adult cancer community by helping those in need feel normalized and connected to their peers. We end isolation and educate our community about the age-appropriate resources they didn’t know they needed, to navigate the crap with dignity and on their terms.”

UNC Widowed Parent Program
Our program is dedicated to supporting parents who have lost their spouse/partner and are raising children on their own.

We understand that life as a widowed parent can feel isolating and overwhelming. We are committed to supporting parents through better resources, education, clinical work, and research.