It is now known that children do better when they are told the truth about their illness. We no longer hide from them the fact that they have cancer. We explain the nature of their disease, tell them about the therapy and ask them to work with physicians and other experts to help them attain a cure. Honesty is the best way to help a child with cancer face the serious problems of the disease.
• Why did this happen?
We do not know why children develop cancer. Although there are some environmental or genetic clues that a child may be at risk, specific causes have not been found in the same way that streptococcus bacteria causes a sore throat.
It is important for the child—and the parents—to realize that having cancer is not a punishment. Cancer occurs in children throughout the world. Parents should not feel guilty. Their strength and optimism is needed by their child, who is facing a serious disease and requires their support to conquer the cancer and win the battle for his or her life.
