Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 12, 2026
09:06
Live-3D-Cell Immunocytochemistry Assays of Pediatric Diffuse Midline Glioma
Published on: November 11, 2021
Absorbing information about a child's incurable cancer
Patrizia Lannen1, Joanne Wolfe, Jennifer Mack
1Phyllis F. Cantor Center, Boston, MA, USA.
Oncology
|June 5, 2010
Summary
Parents receiving information about their child's incurable cancer in an appropriate manner were more likely to absorb it. This ability impacts end-of-life preparation for pediatric cancer patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Oncology
- Bereavement Studies
- Psychological Oncology
Background:
- Communicating incurable cancer diagnoses to parents is challenging.
- Understanding parental reception of this information is crucial for supportive care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate parents' capacity to process the information that their child's cancer is incurable.
- To identify factors influencing parents' ability to absorb this difficult news.
Main Methods:
- A population-based, anonymous mail-in questionnaire study was conducted in Sweden.
- 449 parents who had lost a child to cancer 4-9 years prior completed the survey (80% response rate).
Main Results:
- 60% of parents reported absorbing the information about their child's incurable cancer.
- Appropriate information delivery, social support during illness, and no history of depression were associated with better absorption.
- Parents who absorbed the information were more likely to have achieved desired farewells.
Conclusions:
- Appropriate communication of incurable cancer diagnoses enhances parental absorption of this information.
- Parental ability to absorb this information has significant implications for preparing for a child's impending death.
Related Concept Videos
02:12What is Cancer?
Cells and tissues must meticulously coordinate their activities for the normal functioning of the human body. Therefore, they exhibit socially responsible behavior - resting, growing, dividing, differentiating, or dying - for the organism’s benefit. Cancer arises when cells divide uncontrollably and invade other tissues or organs.
Although people have known about cancer for centuries, it was only in 1761 that Giovanni Morgagni of Padua performed a detailed autopsy of patients who died from...
Although people have known about cancer for centuries, it was only in 1761 that Giovanni Morgagni of Padua performed a detailed autopsy of patients who died from...
02:12What is Cancer?
Cells and tissues must meticulously coordinate their activities for the normal functioning of the human body. Therefore, they exhibit socially responsible behavior - resting, growing, dividing, differentiating, or dying - for the organism’s benefit. Cancer arises when cells divide uncontrollably and invade other tissues or organs.
Although people have known about cancer for centuries, it was only in 1761 that Giovanni Morgagni of Padua performed a detailed autopsy of patients who died from...
Although people have known about cancer for centuries, it was only in 1761 that Giovanni Morgagni of Padua performed a detailed autopsy of patients who died from...
02:49Cancer Therapies
Cancer therapies are various modes of treatment, such as surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy that are administered to cancer patients.
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...
02:49Cancer Therapies
Cancer therapies are various modes of treatment, such as surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy that are administered to cancer patients.
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...
01:21Cancer Survival Analysis
Cancer survival analysis focuses on quantifying and interpreting the time from a key starting point, such as diagnosis or the initiation of treatment, to a specific endpoint, such as remission or death. This analysis provides critical insights into treatment effectiveness and factors that influence patient outcomes, helping to shape clinical decisions and guide prognostic evaluations. A cornerstone of oncology research, survival analysis tackles the challenges of skewed, non-normally...
01:05Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes
Genes usually encode proteins necessary for the proper functioning of a healthy cell. Mutations can often cause changes to the gene expression pattern, thereby altering the phenotype.
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...