Sources of Stress among Parents’ Having Children Undergoing Chemotherapy

Abstract

he psychological distress from pediatric cancer populations is varied. The immediate impact of cancer diagnosis and treatment on child and parent distress is mostly clear (Myers et al., 2014). Being a parent of a child diagnosed with cancer can challenge and disrupt the family’s daily life, causing extensive psychological distress for parents (Ljungman et al., 2014). Childhood cancer is an increasing and prevalent type of chronic disease worldwide. Leukemia is one of the most common cancers in children under 15 years of age and represents 25% of all cancers in children. In Egypt, According to Children’s Cancer Hospital, 8,500 children are estimated to be diagnosed with cancer in Egypt every year (Children’s Cancer Hospital, 2013). Like other chronic diseases, it causes many physical and mental problems for the caregivers (Gelesson et al., 2014). The child’s cancer affects the family’s need for care, self-esteem, social interaction, and functioning. Consequently, parents may find it necessary to change or modify their family roles to cope with the demands of their child’s illness (Mark, 2014). Psychiatric nursing should include in their daily activities, home care for cancer patients and their families, and work to support these families, to establish bonds, to identify the patients' distressing thoughts of having their wishes met, to be reconciled