Macmillan information and support services
Talking to children about cancer
If you or someone in your family has recently been diagnosed with cancer you may be finding it hard deciding if, how, what and when to tell the children.
Children pick up worry in adults and changes that may be happening in the house.
Only you know your child best. It is important to aim any conversation about cancer at their age and level of understanding.
Below are some films, links and resources that may help you.
Other resources
- Talking to children and teenagers – Macmillan Cancer Support
- Talking to Children When a Loved One Has Cancer (cancercare.org)
- Talking to children | Maggie’s (maggies.org)
- Fruitfly Collective – Building new ways to support families affected by cancer
- Telling a child someone is dying (mariecurie.org.uk)
- As Big As It Gets: Supporting a child when a parent is seriously ill (book)
- Telling your child you have cancer, by Fruit Fly Collective