What is happening to me?
You may ask: “Why is this happening to me? Will I be ok? Why do I have to go through this? What happens if I don’t get better?”
It is normal for any person who gets sick to ask these questions. If you don’t understand it or know what to expect, it may cause stress that can affect your emotional and psychological well-being. Feeling scared, angry, or sad is also normal. You don’t have to be brave all the time. Remember, you are not alone. Lots of kids go through this, and you have people who care for you and who want to help your body get better and stronger. Even though it might feel hard, the treatment is helping your body to heal and there is a whole medical team who will be there for you all the time.
- You can and may ask any question, even about scary things. The medical team is more than happy to help you to understand what is happening to you.
- You may experience lots of different emotions like being happy, sad, scared, or confused. You will feel much better if you talk to someone and tell them about them.
- You can choose ways that make you feel safe like holding your favourite toy, listening to music, or sitting with someone you trust during treatment.
- If you have spiritual questions, ask your parent/caregiver to give you the opportunity to connect with a trusted religious or spiritual leader to help you on your journey, and make sense of some of your questions.
- Don’t be afraid to ask the medical team, a traditional or cultural leader to help you understand your cultural background when trying to find answers as to why you have been diagnosed with cancer.
- The Adapted Resource and Implementation Application (ARIA). Clinical Practice Recommendations (CPR) for Spirituality and Existential Crisis. A Global Childhood Cancer Palliative Care Collaboration. https://aria.stjude.org/assets/AG_PC__SpirituallityAndExistentialCrisis CNu5nETI.pdf?utm_source
- Hannah May Scott, et.al. 2023. Spiritual, religious, and existential concerns of children and young people with life-limiting and life threatening conditions: A qualitative interview study. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10227090/
- Qi Liu, et.al. 14 October 2022. A Descriptive and Phenomenological Exploration of the Spiritual Needs of Chinese Children Hospitalized with Cancer. https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/20/13217?utm_source
- Evan E. Rooney, et.al. 2025. Religious and existential coping among pediatric cancer patients and healthy controls: Impact on psychological growth and distress. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/07347332.2025.2567405
- CLIC Sargent Cancer Care for Children. (n.d.). Storybooks. Young lives vs Cancer. https://www.younglivesvscancer.org.uk/cancer-info support/my-child-has-cancer/storybooks/?utm_source
Related Parent Carers
I don’t understand my illness?
You have been diagnosed with something called cancer.
Our bodies are made up of tiny blocks called cells. Normal cells grow, work and when our bodies don’t need them anymore, or they get old or damaged, they die in a controlled way. This is called apoptosis! When you have cancer, it starts with one of these normal cells growing faster and out of control and not dying when they should. These, now abnormal or cancer cells form lumps, called tumours, or affect blood cells that lead to leukaemia (cancer of the blood). The cancer cells can spread to any part of the body via the blood stream or lymphatic system. Cancer is not contagious; you didn’t do anything to cause it as it is a mistake that gets made in your DNA (just like we can all make mistakes that we didn’t do on purpose!)
Why do I have to stay in the hospital?
The hospital is a place where doctors and nurses help you to get better. However, it is normal for anyone to feel scared, anxious, confused, angry or frustrated about having to stay in the hospital.
How do I cope as a patient?
The childhood cancer journey is a tough one, not only because of the treatment, but also because of the emotions, changes, and uncertainties that come with it. Nobody (patient, parents, families) can do it on their own. As a childhood cancer community, we are here to walk the journey with you. Remember that it is not your fault that you have cancer and you did nothing to cause it. Focus on today (the present) and take things one step, one treatment, one day at a time. Learn to lean on others and let people support you; you don’t have to be strong all the time.