The Impact of Childhood Cancer on 50 Chinese Families

Abstract

As part of a larger study, a descriptive study of the impact of childhood cancer on 50 Chinese families was conducted in Guangzhou (Canton) in the Guangdong Province of the Peoples' Republic of China. The parents of children whose cancer was newly diagnosed (n = 25) or undergoing treatment (n = 25) were interviewed in Chinese and their responses were then translated to English. The children ranged in age from 3 to 16 years and had a variety of cancer diagnoses. Parental occupations and incomes varied. The majority (42%) of the families only had the child with cancer. The duration of symptoms before the diagnosis ranged from 1 week to greater than 2 years. Thirty-five parents (70%) believed that their child knew very little or nothing about their disease. The children learned of their diagnosis in a variety of ways. The parents varied in their degree of openness regarding the child's diagnosis with relatives, friends, and colleagues. Some families had previous experience with a serious illness or death, but all identified cancer as the most frightening disease. Forty-one percent of the families felt they had not adjusted yet to the diagnosis. Few acknowledged the impact on siblings. Families also described their outlook on life and their fears of death. Seventy-six percent of the families were paying the total cost of their child's care themselves, and 14% of the total number of families reported major financial problems.