Supporting the Family Affected by a Pediatric Cancer Diagnosis: Siblings Matter, Too

Ways to Support the Siblings

Support for the family of a pediatric patient involves supporting the patient’s siblings.⁶ Often, siblings do not attend medical appointments and may not have access to the information shared in an appointment. Therefore, creating time during appointments to discuss how to disclose the initial diagnosis or treatment information to the patient’s healthy siblings can help families feel more comfortable having age-appropriate conversations with the patient and their siblings.¹

Talk with parents and guardians about the importance of open communication across the family unit and how they can incorporate the healthy sibling into the care of the child with cancer.¹

A sibling who is older may be able to participate in care conversations, whereas a younger child can pick out a toy to bring to their sibling in the hospital. Although including healthy siblings will look different across age groups, addressing how to incorporate the sibling into the patient’s care is important.¹

Resources for Siblings

Siblings should be assured that they are not alone. Programs that focus on the siblings of children with cancer are limited, but some organizations provide support to siblings including CancerCare, SuperSibs, Sunrise Association Day Camps, and Sibling Support Project.

Local treatment centers may have programs and activities. Connect with hospital social workers, child life specialists, patient navigators, or case managers to inquire about specific programs that may be available.

References

1. Weiner JA, Woodley LK. An integrative review of sibling responses to childhood cancer. J Child Adolesc Psychiatr Nurs. 2018;31(4):109-119. doi:10.1111/jcap.12219

2. Sidhu S. The importance of siblings. UNM Health Sciences Center. Published January 7, 2019. Accessed October 11, 2023. https://hsc.unm.edu/news/news/the-importance-of-siblings.html

3. Cheung CK, Acquati C, Smith E, Katerere-Virima T, Helbling L, Betz G. The impact of a cancer diagnosis on sibling relationships from childhood through young adulthood: a systematic review. J Fam Soc Work. 2020;23(4):357-377. doi:10.1080/10522158.2020.1799897

4. Sanford Health News. The impact of a child’s cancer on siblings. Sanford Health. Published July 15, 2017. Accessed October 11, 2023. https://news.sanfordhealth.org/childrens/the-impact-of-cancer-on-siblings/

5. Age-appropriate information. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Reviewed June 2018. Accessed October 11, 2023. https://together.stjude.org/en-us/for-families/talking-to-your-child-about-cancer/age-appropriate-information.html

6. Franklin M, Patterson P, Allison KR, Rosso-Buckton A, Walczak A. An invisible patient: healthcare professionals’ perspectives on caring for adolescents and young adults who have a sibling with cancer. Eur J Cancer Care (Engl). 2018;27(6):e12970. doi:10.1111/ecc.12970