Childhood Brain and Spinal Cord Tumors
Support groups for siblings
Many hospitals have responded to the growing awareness of siblings’ natural concerns and worries by creating hospital visiting days for them. This allows both parent time with the siblings and the opportunity for the siblings to explore and become familiar with the hospital environment. Sibling days allow interaction with other kids who have a sibling with cancer and with staff, and a time to have questions answered and concerns addressed. Some hospitals have expanded these 1-day programs into ongoing support groups to improve communication, education, and support for siblings.
Our local brain tumor support group has just started a monthly meeting for siblings. They have pizza, there’s a counselor involved, and parents attend their own meeting in another room.
Annie went to Camp Goodtimes long after her brother stopped going and attended camp as many years as they would allow. She intends to be on the staff at camp next summer.
Table of Contents
All Guides- Introduction
- 1. Diagnosis
- 2. The Brain and Spinal Cord
- 3. Types of Tumors
- 4. Telling Your Child and Others
- 5. Choosing a Treatment
- 6. Coping with Procedures
- 7. Forming a Partnership with the Treatment Team
- 8. Hospitalization
- 9. Venous Catheters
- 10. Surgery
- 11. Chemotherapy
- 12. Common Side Effects of Chemotherapy
- 13. Radiation Therapy
- 14. Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation
- 15. Siblings
- 16. Family and Friends
- 17. Communication and Behavior
- 18. School
- 19. Sources of Support
- 20. Nutrition
- 21. Medical and Financial Record-keeping
- 22. End of Treatment and Beyond
- 23. Recurrence
- 24. Death and Bereavement
- 25. Looking Forward
- Appendix A. Blood Tests and What They Mean
- Appendix C. Books and Websites