Parents facing their child’s struggle with cancer
Karolina Erwina Stenka, Paweł Izdebski

Introduction: A diagnosis of cancer in one of family members is a highly encumbering experience. What deserves special attention is a case when the one who is diagnosed is a child. Parents face an absolute reorganisation of life on its daily basis in order to meet the demands of their child’s disease. They display a prominent role in the processes of diagnosis and medical treatment. However, the multiplicity of tasks, defined roles, and emotional responses to the situation (the diagnosis of a lifethreatening disease) could lead to various difficulties of psychological nature. Material and method: The article is for reference only. It presents research results regarding difficulties of psychological nature which may be experienced by parents of children diagnosed with cancer (anxiety, depression, acute stress disorders, posttraumatic stress disorder). The works selected for analysis also had to meet certain criteria. Results: The presented data show that an increased risk of traumatic stress, anxiety, and depression disorders may be observed in a group of parents whose children are diagnosed with cancer. One of these disorders may be even experienced by every second parent. According to the data, the most difficult moment for parents is the moment when they acknowledge that their child has been diagnosed with cancer. Discussion: Mothers are the most likely to undertake the role of the main caregiver. Fathers, on the other hand, acquire the role of a family supporter. Although experiencing the same stressor, mothers are those who experience greater difficulties than fathers. They are more frequently diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder and depressive disorders.