When a Parent Has Cancer: A Guide to Caring for Your Children

by Wendy Schlessel Harpham

At some point in our lives, many of us will face the crisis of an unexpected illness. For parents, the fear, anxiety, and confusion resulting from a cancer diagnosis can be particularly devastating. How can you care responsibly for a child when you are in special need of care? How much should you tell your child? How can life go on -- for everyone in the family -- when you are faced with months, even years, of treatment?When a Parent Has Cancer. A...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060187093
• ISBN13: 9780060187095
• Release Date: January 1997
• Publisher: Harper
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 1.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.1" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

A must-have book!

Not only does this book deal with a very sensitive and difficult topic in a very intelligent, straightforward, sensitive, and psychologically healthy manner, but it teaches extremely valuable skills for parenting and coping with ANY troubles life may throw your way. The companion book for children does the very same thing, and very effectively teaches children coping skills in an encouraging, realistic, and safe way. Both books excel in highlighting and addressing differences between the ways adults process thoughts and emotions and the way children do this.

Fabulous Book for an unfortunate topic

When my husband was diagnosed with cancer our children were 5 and 7 years old. This book gave us the tools to use to talk to them about cancer. Illness, chemotherapy and even death were topics that we suddenly had to confront. Dr. Harpham's book provided insight in dealing with a frigtening topic in a calm and reasuring manner.

When a parent has cancer:

This is an excellent guide for being a parent, not just a parent with cancer. You can tell that Dr. Harpham has put enormous energy into making sure her children are affected as little as possible by her illness. Our children would be so lucky if they were not affected by our bad days, our obcessions, or our tainted view of reality. There are a lot of feel good about being a parent books out there. This is an excellent practical guide.

This is a stunning book written by a survivor

Based on her own experiences with cancer, Harpham offers insightful, compassionate and sound advice to parents. Most books on this subject talk about how to break the news to children and deal with their initial reaction. This book goes beyond that, dealing with the issues that arise during the long months of treatment. Becky and the Worry Cup is a wonderful companion piece that will comfort children of all ages