Frequent hospital visits and the financial strain of a child's cancer diagnosis: practical ways to cope
Frequent and regular visits to hospitals
When you start the childhood cancer journey, it may feel that there are disorder and chaos in your life and that you lack time to do what is expected of you in your family’s daily lives. Beyond the medical side, many parents experience multiple practical and financial stressors which are very exhausting and overwhelming. Here are some of the practical challenges that you may face and practical ways parents [caregivers] can cope.
Treatment of children with cancer can take from seven months to over 3 years, requiring frequent and regular visits to hospitals and sometimes with fairly long periods of hospitalisation.
Practical ways parents [caregivers] can cope:
- Ask your doctor when you need to visit the hospital, how long you will need to stay and when you will need to come for outpatient visits. Use a small diary to plan for these visits.
- Plan and manage transport to and from the treatment centres. This might be costly. However, there are childhood cancer organisations that are willing to help you with transport funds and/or accommodation if you stay far from the treatment centre.
- Prepare yourself for long waiting times for procedures and/or test results.
- Be aware and prepare yourself that your schedule may change due to medical emergencies such as a sudden fever that your child develops, etc.
The diagnosis of cancer in a child is likely to place enormous financial strain on your family
Medical care today is extremely expensive, and the cost of treatment continues to rise. Even if you are a member of a medical aid or an insurance scheme, it is likely that they will not cover all the costs of your child's treatment. Money matters can be easily neglected because parents spend all their time and energy on caring for their sick child. It is a good idea if one of the child's parents / caregivers takes control of the family's finances right from the start and keeps proper records of expenditure.
Practical ways parents [caregivers] can cope:
- It is very important to keep proper records of all medical expenses and hidden costs, right from the start. Even though this calls for some effort and time, it will ensure better financial control.
- There are many “hidden” costs of the treatment, for example travelling to and from the hospital, accommodation and meals for the parents while the child is in the hospital, airtime and mobile data, extra nappies when the child may have diarrhoea, special dietary needs the child may have, etc. Speak to parents who have been there for more information.
- If you have financial difficulties or cash flow problems, talk to the service provider involved in your child's treatment and try to come to an agreement about payment arrangements for the account. A letter from your child’s treating doctor may also assist the service provider to better understand your situation and thereby adjust your account accordingly.
Balancing hospital life with daily life can be disruptive
You will need to work together as a couple and as a family to share the burden on a practical level but also emotionally. You need one another and your child needs both of you.
Practical ways parents [caregivers] can cope:
- Stick to normal routines and family activities as much as possible to keep the family secure.
- Try to balance hospital life with home responsibilities. You cannot do this alone. Ask for help and accept it from relatives, friends, hospital staff and communities willing to lend a helping hand with all your household tasks. Don't try to cope all on your own. There are many people willing to help and support you in any way they can.
- Manage your child’s educational needs, not forgetting the needs of the siblings.
Read more
- National Cancer Institute. n.d. Children with Cancer. A guide for parents. https://www.cancer.gov/publications/patient-education/children-with-cancer.pdf
- Canadian Cancer Society. n.d. Coping with hospital stay. https://cancer.ca/en/living-with-cancer/your-child-has-cancer/coping-with-a-child-s-cancer/coping-with-hospital-stays#:~:text=Keep%20the%20same%20daily%20routines,favourite%20toys%2C%20books%20or%20games.
- CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation SA. 2006. Parent Handbook. https://choc.org.za/wp-content/uploads/choc-parent-handbook.pdf#:~:text=For%20over%2010%20years%2C%20this,children%20and%20teenagers%20with%20cancer.
- Children’s Oncology Group. Family Handbook. 2011. Cure Search for Children’s Cancer. https://childrensoncologygroup.org/docs/default-source/pdf/COG_Family_Handbook_2nd_Ed_English_HighRes.pdf
- The Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network. n.d. The Cancer Handbook. https://www.schn.health.nsw.gov.au/cancer-handbook
- Blood Cancer United. Nov. 2022. Caring for your child during treatment. (The Caring of Kids and Adolescents with Blood Cancer Workbook). https://llsorg.widen.net/view/pdf/u4i6xa4tld/en-booklet-ch8pediatric-caregiver-workbook.pdf?t.download=true
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