How to make the right decision?

While this Knowledge Portal cannot offer the right answer, based on our experience we can provide some practical ways parents and caregivers can cope with the uncertainty:

Ask the medical team about side and long-term effects before you give consent to treatment. You cannot say yes to something you barely understand. Ask for clarity.

Breathe and get professional help to guide you to do the best possible thing for your child while protecting quality of life for the child and the family.

The uncertainty of wondering if you made the right decision, can be a huge stressor. After consulting with the medical team and when making an informed decision, trust yourself that you have done the right thing. Stressing about whether it was right or wrong won’t change anything but may have a negative effect on your health and mental well-being. Trust your decision-making. 

When one starts to seek information, one may find conflicting or overwhelming resources. Don’t stress, Childhood Cancer International (CCI) developed this Knowledge Portal to give non-conflicting and accurate information. The resources that we refer to have been reviewed, researched and are easily accessible.

Thus, when dealing with so much information, there are a few practical ways parents and caregivers can cope:

Childhood Cancer International (CCI) works in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO), St Jude Research Hospital, The International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP) and other  professional organisations focussing on childhood cancer. We use their technical expertise to review information and resources. 

CCI also works with over 200 patient support organisations globally so that we can share best practices and trusted experiences on our communication channels.

The internet can be helpful but frightening. We have added references, blogs, webinars and other information that you can read. When available, we recommend you to check the section Sources We Like of each article.

Be careful when listening to relatives, friends and communities who want to offer unverified ‘cure’ or advice. Do not use any ‘cure or remedy’ before discussing it with your paediatric oncologist. The most innocuous remedy could interfere with the treatment and may have negative outcomes.