When Someone in Your Family
Has Cancer

National Cancer Institute
National Institutes of Health

Contents:

1. Introduction

2. Cancer and the Family

3. Cancer: Can It Be Cured?

4. One Way To Help Yourself: Learn About Cancer

• What Is Cancer?
• Cancer: It's Not Contagious

5. Cancer Treatment

• Surgery
• Chemotherapy
• Side Effects of Chemotherapy
• Radiation Therapy
• Side Effects of Radiation Therapy
• Biological Therapy
• Side Effects of Biological Therapy
• Side Effects: What You Can Do To Help

6. Learning More on Your Own

• Reading About Cancer

7. Cancer in the Family: What It's Like for You

• It May Be Hard To Talk About Cancer
• Being Scared
• Feeling Guilty
• Getting Mad
• Feeling Neglected
• Feeling Lonely
• Answering Questions
• Feeling Embarrassed
• Dealing With Side Effects
• Changing

8. How Your Parents Feel

9. Putting It All Together

10. Resources