More people
are living with cancer now than ever before, and new ways
to treat cancer are being discovered.
Having cancer doesn't necessarily
mean a person will die from it.
Nothing you did or didn't
do caused your family member to get cancer.
Nothing you
thought or said caused your family member to get cancer.
Cancer is not contagious-you
can't catch it from someone else.
If one of your parents
has cancer, or if you have a brother or sister with cancer,
that doesn't mean that you or someone else in your family
will get it too.
Nobody can tell you why
your parent or brother or sister is sick and you're healthy.
The way you behave cannot
change the fact that someone has cancer or that Your family
is upset
It is good for you to continue
with school and outside activities.
Any illness changes family
life for awhile. A parent or a brother or sister who is
home sick with the flu can't spend as much time with the
family as usual. The sick person may get special attention,
and you may need to help around the house. But most times,
the person isn't sick very long, and family life soon
goes back to normal.
But when someone has cancer,
it is different. He or she needs special medical treatment
and may go to the hospital or clinic a lot. People in
the family may worry. They worry for the person who has
cancer and for themselves. Cancer is a serious illness,
and it's scary if you don't know for sure if the person
will get well or not.
People in your
family may react differently. They may be afraid or angry
that their life has changed. They may be tired, or they
may be nervous about the future. They may be tense and
not as easy to talk to as before because they're worried.
Some people may go on just as if nothing has happened,
and they may not seem different at all. If you're upset,
you may wonder if they care about the family member who
has cancer. It's important to remember that each person
reacts in his or her own way. You may 'get mad at other
members of your family for the way they're acting. It's
better to talk with them than to stay mad. If you talk,
you can understand why they're acting that way.
