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Although the average age for a lung cancer diagnosis is around 70 years old, an increasing number of younger patients are being diagnosed.  Many of these younger patients have especially aggressive cancer, and have children at home. The patient or their spouse/partner may be uncertain about when and how to tell their child about cancer, and struggle with finding supports that help the children process the situation.

On September 7 at 8 pm Eastern Daylight Time (5 pm Pacific), #LCSM Chat will discuss the special situations that arise in families when the parent is diagnosed with lung cancer and has younger children.  Moderator Janet Freeman-Daily (@JFreemanDaily) will lead our chat using the following topic questions:

• T1: At what point in the process of cancer diagnosis and treatment should a child be told about a parent’s cancer?
• T2: How should the child’s age, temperament, or other characteristics influence what the parent says about cancer?
• T3: Should children ever talk to their parent’s cancer doc or visit the clinic? How can healthcare providers help children cope?
• T4: What resources are available for children of cancer patients? What programs exist? What activities help?
• T5: If you know a child whose parent has cancer, how can you best support the child?

We look forward to seeing you in our September 7 #LCSM Chat.  If you’re new to tweet chats, check out this handy primer.

Resources:

• Talking to Kids & Teens About Cancer (Cancer Support Community)
• How should children be told that a parent has cancer? (American Cancer Society)
• Helping Children When a Family Member Has Cancer (CancerCare)
• Talking With Your Children (Cancer.Net, the patient page of ASCO)
• Talking With Your Teenager (Cancer.Net)
• Talking to Children about Your Cancer (National Cancer Institute)
• How to Tell Your Children about Your Cancer Diagnosis (National Comprehensive Cancer Network)
• Camp Kesem (for children whose parents have cancer)