Adult Patient Resource Handbook - 5th Edition
Reacting to a Diagnosis
Telling Your Family, Friends and Children
Informing your loved ones about your diagnosis is often difficult for many patients as you are often unsure about how much information to disclose and you may not want to burden your family or friends with this news. However, it is important that you have the people closest to you available to support you through this time.
You should not have to face this diagnosis alone. Sharing this information with those closest to you will help remove some of the emotional burden and allow you to move past the initial shock and on to what can be done to treat the brain tumour. Be honest about the information that you have been given and don’t be afraid to express your feelings. Your family and friends will want to be there to offer their support and would rather hear about your diagnosis sooner than later.
Talking to Your Children
Telling your children can be extremely difficult, but it is very important that they are informed about your diagnosis. Children are extremely perceptive and can usually sense that something is wrong. Their level of understanding is often underestimated. Children who are denied all knowledge often feel hurt or confused and may begin to believe that something is wrong because of their own actions.
The children’s age and maturity should help to determine how much information and details to disclose. Discussing the diagnosis allows children to ask questions about the disease and express their feelings about it.
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À 2003 Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada 1.800.265.5106
Charitable Registration #BN118816339RR0001 |