Mother’s Day can be tough when your Mum has cancer

This May, in the spirit of Mother’s Day, youth cancer charity CanTeen reaches out to the 15,000 Australians aged 12-24 years who have a parent diagnosed with cancer each year.

For these young people, a parent’s cancer can cause great disruption to routines and relationships and can contribute to immense feelings of anxiety and isolation. CanTeen’s practical FREE resource book Now What…? Dealing with your parent’s cancer may be the only help they receive during this difficult time. It provides age-appropriate information, practical tips and advice across a whole range of areas.

This Mother’s Day, Now What…? Dealing with your parent’s cancer celebrates its third birthday. Since its release, almost 12,000 FREE copies of the book have been distributed as a vital resource to help young people navigate this challenging experience.

“When mum first told us she had cancer, I was a huge emotional wreck. This book has some very useful information, is very helpful and gives some great advice. It actually tells you everything about the cancer, and ways to cope with it. There are even recipes, which came in very handy when mum was sick. My mum is in remission now but if I had it earlier, it would have been a huge help!” – Corey, 14

“After losing a parent to cancer, I sheltered myself away from the world and didn’t want to deal with anything or anyone… I thought I would check it out and see what I could gain from it. I am so glad I did! It is an easy-to-read compact resource that covers every possible area needed to help deal with your parent’s cancer journey… I would tell every young person living with their parent’s cancer, or anyone who knows one, to grab a copy!” - Natalie, 20

The resource was developed in response to extensive research CanTeen conducted into the needs of young people who have a parent with cancer. It is peer reviewed and widely endorsed by health and educational professionals.

Now What…? Dealing with your parent’s cancer is available FREE of charge as a hard copy book or downloadable PDF from www.nowwhat.org.au or by calling 1800 669 942.

“No matter how much you hoped it wouldn’t, life changed once your parent was diagnosed with cancer. Living with a parent who has cancer can affect your life in almost every way. Often the focus is on how cancer affects your feelings, but it can also mess with everyday life: routines change, it’s not always easy to plan for things, people act weird and nothing seems certain anymore”. (Extract from Now what…? Dealing with your parent’s cancer; p. 15)

CanTeen is the Australian Organisation for Young People Living with Cancer. CanTeen's Members are young people (12-24 year-olds) living with cancer, including cancer patients, brothers or sisters of cancer patients and young people with a parent or primary care giver with cancer or has died from cancer. CanTeen provides Members with a place where they can simply be young people - away from the adult dominated environment of cancer hospitals and treatment regimes. Through its camps and programs, CanTeen encourages its Members to get involved, make friends and have fun! In the words of our Members, the most effective form of support is from other young people in a similar situation - who have "been there, done that".

For more information on CanTeen please visit www.canteen.org.au

For more information on the Now What..? resources visit www.nowwhat.org.au