Includes bibliographical references and index.

Author Nancy Keene is the mother of a child who was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia at the age of three. She was motivated to write this book to as a resource for other families experiencing childhood cancer. The format consists of the journey from diagnosis through to all outcomes (survival, relapse, death). Keene explains the often-difficult concepts of technical and medical terminology in accessible language (e.g. “Calcium and magnesium are minerals that can be compared to the spark plugs in your car — they spark the chemical reactions in your body needed to make it function properly”) and intersperses each section with reflections by parents and children on these stages of the cancer experience. She covers a wide spectrum of topics and responses, from understanding and choosing treatment options; how to discuss the illness in age-appropriate ways with your sick child, their siblings, and other family members; side effects; school; emotional reactions; nutrition; recovery; bereavement. The book was written primarily for an American readership so some of the specifics in the chapter on insurance, record-keeping and financial assistance may be of limited value to families living in Ireland; however, it can be broadly helpful for considering the impact of these aspects of childhood cancer on families. The recollections of parents and children personalise the narrative and reflect the diversity of experiences that childhood cancer brings to families, such as the different coping mechanisms parents use when their child becomes ill, or sibling reactions when a child is diagnosed with cancer. This book includes details of resource organisations, books, websites, and support groups catering for all age-groups, as well as an index.

Audience: Adult; Adult caregiver