Cutaneous reactions to pediatric cancer treatment: Part I. Conventional chemotherapy

Experience of Parents with Children Undergoing Chemotherapy

Background

The care of a child receiving chemotherapy has a significant impact on the parents and family structure, which has been explored in depth in a few studies in Saudi Arabia. The purpose of this study is to further explore the lived experiences of Saudi Arabian parents in caring for their children receiving chemotherapy.

Methodology

A qualitative descriptive design was used in this study with a sample of 17 parents of children receiving chemotherapy. The participants were recruited using the snow-balling technique throughout the community, as well as from the University Hospital, Pediatric Oncology Department. The data were collected via in-person and virtual methods using semi-structured, open-ended interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis.

Results

The findings of the study were placed into two main themes: family experience and stages of disease. Family experiences include the parents and siblings' experiences. The stages of disease include three sub-themes: the pre-diagnosis phase, diagnosis phase, and treatment phase.

Conclusion

The cancer journey had a huge impact on the parents and siblings. The study revealed important findings related to the experiences during the stages of diseases and lived experiences of parents and siblings including psychological, physiological, social, and financial impacts.

The experiences of mothers who have a child diagnosed with cancer

Objective: This qualitative study explored the experiences of mothers who had a child diagnosed with cancer.Design and Outcome Measure: Informed by Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, semi-structured interviews were completed with 13 participants, transcribed verbatim with individual and cross-case analysis conducted.Results: One superordinate theme, Protecting My Child, Whatever the Cost, was identified with five related subordinate themes. Participants battled to protect the development of their ill child. They richly described the personal costs and losses experienced, including putting their life on hold, and lost time with their healthy children. Participants faced realities of cancer treatment that were incongruent with their goal of protecting their child. Self-care awareness was significant for well-being as they protected themselves from reminders of their child's mortality. Despite living in a crisis, participants reported changes suggestive of posttraumatic growth.Conclusion: Childhood cancer brings profound psychosocial and biographical disruption to the lives of mothers as they lose socially valued roles and have their identity as competent mothers challenged. Mothers protect their child, often at a cost to their health and well-being but also bringing positive consequences. The findings offer insights for psychologists in supporting mothers to reclaim their identity as competent mothers and renegotiate their mothering expectations.