Caring for a Pediatric Lymphoma Patient:
Caring for Someone with Lymphoma

A diagnosis of pediatric cancer is overwhelming for the child and the care partner. It is very important that you adopt routines of self-care, because you will need to gather and keep your strength throughout the process . As a parent and care partner, you can build trust with your child by having calm and honest conversations. It is important that you adapt your caregiving approach to your child’s age. Young children will generally tend to rely more on physical comfort or being prepared in advance for treatments that cause pain, while older children and teens may need more reassurance on how the disease is going to affect their lives (the way they look, school, daily activities, and friends). You can also consider the following suggestions:

• Your child’s healthcare team can help you navigate through important questions like when and how to tell your child, and what you can do to help them cope.
• Let your child know about and help them adjust to visible changes that may happen during treatment (like hair or weight loss). Help them pick a fun cap, scarf, or wig ahead of time, or have a registered dietitian prepare a meal plan that keeps your child strong through treatment.
• Explain that their routine is going to change during treatment, and that this may include spending more time in the hospital, being isolated at home, and missing school. Help your child adjust to these changes by bringing comfort items to the hospital room, decorating their room at home or preparing education plans with their teachers.
• Provide supportive care to manage side effects and improve your child’s quality of life. The healthcare team will let you know how to manage pain, prevent infections and handle other health-related events.
• Keep their network of friends close. Encourage your child to stay in touch with and reach out to friends with remote apps. If allowed by your child and the healthcare team, have friends visit or let your child engage in school activities.
• Use video games, music, movies or other creative activities (art, massage, or laughter therapy) to keep your child entertained. These distractions are important to help your child relax and focus on something else.
• Be alert to any abrupt and sustained changes in behavior and sleep disturbances, which may signal emotional distress. Seek help from a trained mental health professional to provide strategies to manage stress and be alert for signs of anxiety disorder or depression.

To learn more about caring for pediatric lymphoma patients and adolescent and young adult lymphoma, visit our adolescent and young adult learning center.

Download our Care Partner fact sheet for more information about caring for someone with lymphoma.

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