The hardest part of diagnosis: How do we tell the children?
THE boss of Scots cancer charity Maggie’s said the most difficult part of Kate Middleton’s news would be telling her three children, George, Charlotte and Louis.
Laura Lee said: “I would say to anyone with cancer, there is no right way or wrong way, there is just what is right for you and your family.”
Laura, who has been CEO of the charity for 28 years, added: “People often come into Maggie’s to process and help make sense of the news they have been told.
“If they have young children then it’s how and when to share that information with them.
“What we learned from Kate’s message on Friday is that she has done that.
“We encourage parents to take the time to process their own worries, feelings, thoughts and concerns.
“And then when they have done that, that is the time to talk to the children.”
Laura, who is a former cancer nurse, said that information is best given out in small chunks, particularly with young children
She says Kate, like any other parent, will want to protect them as much as she can.
Laura added: ”We advise parents not to keep secrets as children can often pick up on things.
“It is better to tell a little than nothing.”
She believes there is not one ideal procedure for a parent with cancer informing their children.
She added: “Someone like Louis may be too young.
“George being 10 may have heard the word cancer but he may not actually know what that means.
“You have to really think about the age of the children and what the family have already heard and experienced.
“In this case her cancer diagnosis has come after hearing about their grandfather’s’.”
Laura continued: “Also parents should not be surprised if their children are not interested in their cancer diagnosis, as they often live life in the moment.
“If they see you looking fine, they will be fine.”
Maggie’s runs a network of drop-in centres across the United Kingdom – as well as Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Barcelona – for people affected by cancer.
The first one opened in Edinburgh in 1996.
If they see you are looking fine, they will be fine LAURA LEE OF CANCER CHARITY MAGGIE’S