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Your child has been diagnosed with cancer: the family's first steps
This is the hardest news. Right now, what matters is not solving everything at once, but taking a few concrete steps — and not being alone.
Short answer
Childhood cancer is curable in many cases today. The family's tasks at the start: get to a specialized center, organize daily life and paperwork, connect with charities — they help for free with everything from housing near the hospital to a second medical opinion.
What you can do
- Ask the doctor for the exact diagnosis and examination plan — write everything down in a dedicated notebook or the diary.
- Contact a children's cancer charity right away — they know the whole system and help for free.
- Gather documents: insurance, IDs, medical records and discharge summaries.
- Divide roles in the family: who stays with the child, who handles paperwork and daily life.
- Don't look for 'miracle cures' online and don't cancel doctors' prescriptions — discuss doubts with the treating team.
- Accept help: from relatives, charities, volunteers. It's normal and necessary.
Important:All medical information in this section is general. Treatment is determined only by your child's treating physician.
Source: Guidance for families facing childhood cancer