The Cancer Journey for Children and Teenagers
The cancer journey for anyone is particularly tough and can be lengthy. But I have become aware of how challenging this same journey is for small children, young people, and their families. Many family things, careers, jobs, must be ‘put on hold’ while the focus is placed on the child with cancer.
At the hospital today, my eyes were drawn to a new poster in the reception area. It introduced you to a young child who has Ewing Sarcoma, which is a rare type of bone cancer. He was diagnosed with this cancer when he was six years of age. Initially, he required 14 cycles of chemotherapy which was given over ten months, which was then followed by radiotherapy.
His mum says “the chemotherapy was horrific. He had 14 cycles with a 2-week gap between each cycle, but his body took so long to recover, that in total it took around ten months. Besides being extremely tough on our son. It was difficult for the whole family. I had three children then, and I now have four, and it was hard for our other children not to lose their parents completely. We took it in turns each night as we didn’t have childcare.”
“The treatment is brutal, and the chance of relapse is terrifying. We have to do something. We need to pull some good out of everything we went through.”
Now 11 years of age, he now faces long term side effects including thyroid and growth hormone problems, and he relies on emergency cortisone injections to help his body recover from any shocks.”
The words of this loving mum and the journey of this young man really impacted me. I have a phrase that I read in a motivational book some years ago that keeps coming back to me. You can ‘forge meaning’ out of any difficult situation or trial that you are forced to endure. We can turn things around for good, for ourselves, and for other people. Our experience may help others who are facing what seem to be insurmountable challenges.
Pray
For families with young children who are navigating the cancer journey. For the siblings who may feel overlooked. That they may all have times of relief, fun, joy, and peace in the middle of the turmoil.
Jane Coates
April 2025