CHECK OUT THE BLOG

A guide to supportive, sensitive communication that helps children and families feel understood during a cancer diagnosis.

WHY YOUR WORDS MATTER

[{"selector":"#anim-ebd6f924-0f1d-45ba-9ce9-5cbdc097cc12","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4df9302c-da5e-466f-9a8a-27fc7dd4933f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.09433%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-656d71d3-f4de-4214-9a1c-b337872cbac5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0a953b18-c1e5-48d5-bf2d-8f9ca3038ec7","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(117.36334%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cacfc9d4-4578-436c-aca6-f3b3366e9caa","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-30704032-be93-4838-8543-77b4d0f9c685","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-112.42425%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

BE HONEST AND AGE-APPROPRIATE

[{"selector":"#anim-bfb4a0c7-26e1-4e3a-b895-bc4795544fe3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a7a06eff-876f-4b6b-9512-07d3ba716312","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.09433%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-910046ed-790a-412e-8e58-078a18d7600a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7f219ada-54ac-469f-973d-e4d7e672a405","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(117.36334%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-682c6339-1e42-4b3b-825c-67563588f52f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0a21d28c-5f89-47cd-a0a6-c7949383376d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-112.42425%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

BE EMPATHETIC AND REASSURING

[{"selector":"#anim-47de13fd-28a7-4677-a760-47fb78a9cf6d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4352e8bb-e2ab-4f8e-a1ec-bdf6da2696c9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.09433%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a2acd656-00a0-46af-9cb6-f8dfa6fc4ac8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8c2c4ce5-4c92-43da-8f37-247c517dfa30","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(117.36334%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4a13afbd-2341-4e7c-ab44-c99240270b30","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a1e1e7df-ebd6-4a8b-bee9-b90bb7375343","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-112.42425%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

INVOLVE CHILDREN IN THE CONVERSATION

[{"selector":"#anim-2b000a17-b297-4ce8-8901-dc2a48892c2f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-976f84c8-b166-49ae-a38e-eb0cd9e83221","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.09433%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e259f2f6-10b0-44d0-b071-2d3e8d4563d3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-711ae59b-3f58-411e-bd01-34b040322bfc","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(117.36334%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5ca20865-10cf-4ba0-9a48-18a861cb28df","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bbf5f41e-f2d8-4021-882a-fa4c2f960611","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-112.42425%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

USE SIMPLE, COMFORTING PHRASES

[{"selector":"#anim-1df4d301-3c22-44b6-854c-a70f480e0582","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-26054396-1784-4afa-8007-f43efbabf773","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.09433%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9aa76d60-c4a1-4d6c-995b-1477237aa99c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1d02f7c4-2ecb-40c1-a1fc-70632c88f27e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.43408%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-61ab7b0c-7ab6-473d-852c-cd31bdbed391","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-edbc9792-d2c9-46f7-b2f7-5ad3eadf237d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-112.42425%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

SUPPORT FEELINGS AND QUESTIONS

[{"selector":"#anim-4bdb6a97-c6b0-416c-8bc4-bb7b87d6acf0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dee0275b-2971-4177-9da2-ee53c1353b10","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.09433%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8fc9034d-7348-4bbe-89ba-3e8242646fe0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-54631f3a-c0ff-4712-98c7-ccd29dbff8d4","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(117.36334%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-054715f8-adf5-49d6-a760-1c2cc1f22282","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-77c965ec-de0d-4656-b96a-f7b44edb0ff6","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-112.42425%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

CREATE A CARING ENVIRONMENT

[{"selector":"#anim-01ca59e2-b12e-420e-a638-fdc7809b9270","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c13c8d4b-b4a7-4957-a0d4-09fd1470d9ec","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.09433%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2aeec541-265a-4a0f-a01f-1da9af1320d3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-72e40035-cf98-442c-8a9b-817272e34071","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(117.36334%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-103ef1a1-61eb-431b-957d-63de2fd10dd8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f49df1d9-f7bb-45c7-bdec-0eb82a224caa","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-112.42425%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Stories

[{"selector":"#anim-b49eee69-4376-4aa6-bbb3-8125356aeef5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":1200,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a15de86d-2719-41f8-a74f-c7a90a5b8cb3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":100,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-39af06ff-d985-44e1-931f-2fce2d25ff35","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-134.6442%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":100,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9b3af857-0ddb-4ea5-af77-4e27aa5d7f87","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3506da06-9029-4d2f-ba2b-1133d1400440","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-160.78432%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4bb2f3ca-3d09-4cb3-a8fc-c53cc0b39470","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c7dae903-1569-4252-b045-fc9740a10b5f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a3eee1e7-0e1a-4bb8-b55c-dc4da9916a33","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b2c3aba9-7aa4-49d8-aa6b-77b70c6f7f0d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3120ca27-3150-45bc-838e-05df9b8b0bc2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":1200,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-20e2e893-c010-41c4-9aa7-0adbdf030158","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":1200,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1076d937-50bf-4790-aee6-d9f2b6458f74","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":1200,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-40473c2c-8d76-4b8c-b6b6-f89cd72d625c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":1200,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-49019263-0551-4935-a4a6-13a208cb9c51","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":1200,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

CHECK OUT THE BLOG

WHAT TO SAY TO SOMEONE WITH CANCER

WHY YOUR WORDS MATTER

A cancer diagnosis for a child is overwhelming. Clear, compassionate language helps families feel supported, not alone.

BE HONEST AND AGE-APPROPRIATE

Explain cancer in simple language the child can understand. Use clear terms and avoid confusing or frightening medical jargon.

BE EMPATHETIC AND REASSURING

Use kind, calm words. Acknowledge fear and sadness, while offering realistic hope and reassurance.

INVOLVE CHILDREN IN THE CONVERSATION

Allow children to ask questions and share feelings. Participation helps them process and maintain a sense of control.

CHECK OUT THE BLOG

USE SIMPLE, COMFORTING PHRASES

Say things like: “You’re not alone,” “It’s okay to be scared,” and “We’re here to help you through this.”

SUPPORT FEELINGS AND QUESTIONS

Be prepared for difficult questions like “Why me?” or “Will I get better?” Answer with honesty, sensitivity, and hope.

CREATE A CARING ENVIRONMENT

Comfort goes beyond words, routine, presence, touch, and safety help families feel supported throughout treatment.

Stories

More

PET SCANS REVEAL THE TRUTH INSIDE YOUR BODY

10 BEST FRUITS THAT FIGHT CANCER

See More

See More