The experience of a child undergoing cancer treatment can be traumatic, distressing and isolating for parents and siblings as well as the patient. The impact on the whole family has been well understood by health professionals for many years, as has, the medical needs of the child, but also the necessity to provide services which look after the emotional and social needs of the family of the child.
Parent support groups have been formed over the past thirty years to provide information and practical, emotional and financial support for families to enable them to cope with the difficulties associated with lengthy treatment – often many miles from home.
Childhood Cancer International, originally called The International Confederation of Childhood Cancer Parent Organizations – ICCCPO – was set up in 1994 and is a global network of 167 grassroots and national networks of parent organizations in 90 countries, spanning 5 continents.