Shielding and being shielded: children's perspectives on coping with their mother's cancer and chemotherapy

Little research has examined children's perceptions of what it was like when their mother was diagnosed and treated with chemotherapy for breast cancer. This research aimed to describe the children's perspectives and to suggest interventions to assist children to manage the experience with less stress. Qualitative naturalistic inquiry methods were used. Purposive sampling was used to recruit children whose mothers had chemotherapy for breast cancer in the prior two years. Eleven children were interviewed individually or with siblings. Children were between seven to 21 years of age. The major theme that emerged was Shielding and Being Shielded. Shielding refers to how children protected themselves from their thoughts and feelings and protected themselves from others. Being Shielded refers to what others did to protect the children. Shielding and Being Shielded each had components reflective of knowing/understanding, acknowledging/feeling, sharing, and shifting/helping. Recommendations directed towards assisting children, parents, and nurses and other health care professionals are suggested.