Colon Cancer Alliance

It Helps to Have Friends

By Carol Lindberg
Publication number: 96-20M-No.4654-CC
Published by the American Cancer Society, 1996
www.cancer.org - 1-800-ACS-2345

Reviewed by Pati Lanning

The American Cancer Society's 14-page booklet "It Helps to Have Friends (When Mom or Dad Has Cancer)" will be very helpful to families with young children. As hard as we may try to maintain normalcy in our lives, often children may be worried about a parent who has cancer. They may not voice their fears, not quite knowing what to say or how to begin. This booklet is a good way to open communication and help children realize how important it is to share their feelings.

"It helps to Have Friends" tells a young boy's story about how his life changes when his father is diagnosed with cancer. Once his parents realize how worried he is, they read some books about cancer and learn that there are special clubs for kids whose parents have cancer.

David explains what happens at the club. They talk about what cancer is and ways to treat it. At every meeting, they talk about their feelings and are encouraged to ask any questions they have about cancer. The children talk openly about their fears of losing their parent, how scared they are, their anger at how their lives have changed, their guilt over not being able to help, and so on.

This booklet has pictures geared towards young children and is easy for children to understand. It also has space to list people to talk to, questions to ask, and a page to draw pictures. This is a nice, short book sure to help kids through elementary school age.

Pati Lanning is a colorectal cancer survivor and member of the Colon Cancer Alliance.

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