Children and teens taking antidepressantsAntidepressants are drugs used, most often, to treat depression. Depression is a complex illness that involves sad and hopeless feelings that do not go away. Read this handout to learn more about depression and the benefits and risks of taking antidepressants.
Comfort itemsWhen children and teens come to the hospital, it can be a scary time for them because they are leaving behind everything they know as "home." Many families have found it helpful to bring comfort items with them for the patient.
Helping your child / teen cope with body changesWhile your child / teen is at St. Jude, the treatments he receives may cause changes to his body. It is important to remember that most changes are temporary, and there are things you can do to help your child / teen cope.
Helping your preschool child cope with deathHelping your preschooler understand death will help him cope better. If you do not explain death to him in simple, honest terms, he will be left to imagine what has happened. These thoughts can often be scarier than the truth...
Helping your school-age child cope with deathMost school-age children have begun to understand what death means. They also may have started asking harder questions, such as "Why?" Your school-age child may wonder about the physical changes of the dead person's body...
Helping your teenager cope with deathTeens typically have a full understanding of death. If the person who dies is close in age to your teenager, he may be faced with the reality that not everyone lives until they are very old...
How patients react to hospital careCommon reactions of patients to their diagnoses and hospital care. Includes ways to support and help your child or teen through the hospital experience.
How siblings react to hospital careCommon reactions of siblings to the diagnosis and hospital care of a sick brother or sister. Includes ideas for helping your children who are not St. Jude patients.
Preparing your child / teen for radiationIf children and teens are not given information about radiation treatment in words that they can understand, they are left to imagine what is going to happen. These thoughts can often be scarier than the truth.
Preparing your child for the radiation simulationYour child / teen is about to start radiation treatments. Most likely, the radiation oncologist or nurse has talked to you about the simulation - the set-up process for radiation. Many patients have unspoken fears, questions, and false ideas about what will happen during the simulation. Giving your child correct information that fits his age will help him cope better with this new process and correct any false ideas he might have.
Sex and treatmentWhen you are receiving treatment for a serious illness, many questions come to mind. Some may be about how your lifestyle will change. It is very normal to have questions about sex during treatment, even if you are not sexually active.
Talking with your child / teen about having leukemiaThe following ideas may help you talk with your child/teen about leukemia. We suggest that you use the words "leukemia" and "cancer" openly. It will help him be more familiar with the words and feel more at ease when asking questions...
Research
