Supporting parents with cancer: a profile of patients using childcare services in a cancer center.

[BACKGROUND] In Japan, approximately 1 million individuals are newly diagnosed with cancer each year, and 56,000 patients have children under 18 years old. Children of patients with cancer face many challenges, and many parents struggle with how and when to talk to their children about their illness.

[METHODS] This retrospective study involved patients with cancer who consulted child life specialists (CLS) for their children at a cancer center between January and December 2021. Patients' demographic and clinical information, their children's ages, and consultation topics were extracted from medical records.

[RESULTS] In total, 138 patients consulted CLS regarding concerns about their children. Most patients were women in their 40 s, with breast cancer as the most common diagnosis (46%). Consultations mainly occurred at diagnosis (43%) or during primary treatment (36%). Issues related to children aged 7-12 years were the most common. Of 294 consultation topics analyzed, the most common topic was how and when to tell children about treatment details and schedules (17%). Emotional support for children was a major concern among patients with recurrent diseases. Patients with breast cancer most often sought advice on discussing physical changes, whereas patients with gastrointestinal and gynecological cancers prioritized communication about diagnosis.

[CONCLUSIONS] Patients with cancer that have minor children have diverse and complex concerns. Our findings highlight the importance of integrating psychosocial support services in standard oncology care to address families' unique needs. Tailored interventions, particularly for school-aged children, and ongoing support throughout the disease trajectory are essential to improve family outcomes.