Psychosocial care shortly after the end of treatment

Parents often feel uncertain in the period shortly after treatment ends. This is largely due to the loss of support from the hospital. In addition, there is fear of a possible relapse, with the prospect of intensive treatment or the possibility that a cure may no longer be achievable.

After treatment, support from family, friends, and others often decreases because people think that ‘it is over now’. This can be especially difficult for parents. Research shows that social support, particularly five years after diagnosis, is an important predictor of stress, especially for fathers. Parents can turn to the Dutch Childhood Cancer Association for information and peer support. There is also an online group course for parents of a child who has completed treatment, called Op Koers. In this course, parents receive psychoeducation and can strengthen their coping skills through contact with other parents.

During this period, parents often only begin to truly process everything that has happened, while at the same time trying to resume daily life, such as returning to work. These are very normal feelings, but they can lead to physical complaints or symptoms of burnout. The social worker can support parents during this time. For longer-term or more intensive guidance or treatment after treatment ends, parents are often referred to a psychosocial care professional in their home environment, such as the Integrated Child Care Network, or to secondary psychosocial care, for example psycho-oncology centers or the general practitioner’s practice nurse.

More information

Grootenhuis, M.A., Aarsen, F., & Van den Bergh, E. (2022). Psychologische behandeling bij kinderen met kanker. In S. Duijts, R. Sanderman, M. Schroevers, & T. Vos (Eds.), Psychologische patiëntenzorg in de oncologie (pp. 323-334). Uitgeverij Van Gorcum.

Grootenhuis, M. A., & Last, B. F. (2003). Stresshantering door kinderen met kanker en hun ouders. Pedagogiek, 23(3), 232-240.

Stam, H., Grootenhuis, M. A., Brons, P. P., Caron, H. N., & Last, B. F. (2006). Health‐related quality of life in children and emotional reactions of parents following completion of cancer treatment. Pediatric Blood and Cancer, 47(3), 312-319. https://doi.org/10.1002/pbc.20661

Wakefield, C. E., McLoone, J., Goodenough, B., Lenthen, K., Cairns, D. R., & Cohn, R. J. (2010). The psychosocial impact of completing childhood cancer treatment: a systematic review of the literature. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 35(3), 262-274. https://doi.org/10.1093/jpepsy/jsp056

Wijnberg-Williams, B. J., Kamps, W. A., Klip, E. C., & Hoekstra-Weebers, J. E. (2006). Psychological distress and the impact of social support on fathers and mothers of pediatric cancer patients: long-term prospective results. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 31(8), 785-792. https://doi.org/10.1093/jpepsy/jsj087