Brothers and Sisters of children and young people with cancer

This leaflet is to help you to support the brothers and sisters of your child who is being treated for cancer.

This is likely to be a very difficult time, hearing that your child has cancer and trying to cope with it. There is so much to take in, in such a short space of time. When you feel able please look at this leaflet. You may also want to show it to anyone who is involved with looking after your well children.

All children will be affected by their brother’s or sister’s illness and their treatment. Some brothers and sisters can cope with the extra challenges the illness brings to the family and seem to learn from the experience. However many brothers and sisters find the changes in family life hard to cope with. They may feel left out, angry, anxious about the illness and their own health, and find school difficult.

There are three booklets available from your treatment centre dealing with some of these issues. Whilst your child is ill it is likely that their brothers and sisters will be looked after by other people so please let them see the booklets as well.

There are also several organisations which aim to help brothers and sisters cope with their feelings and we have listed some useful contacts at the back of this leaflet.