How to Cope When Your Child Has Been Diagnosed With Cancer
- It's sometimes hard to remember that celebrities are people just like us, and they struggle, too. This is especially true for singer Michael Buble, who recently revealed he was a ‘wreck’ for years after his son’s cancer diagnosis.
- The life-altering experience even caused him to lose his interest in music. “I wasn’t even singing in the shower,” he said.
- If your child is diagnosed with childhood cancer, it may seem like the dreams you have for your family are falling apart. It is important to try to keep a level head after you have fully felt all of your emotions around the diagnosis.
In fact, the life-altering experience even caused him to lose his interest in music, he told the Sunday Telegraph during a recent interview.
Read MoreOnce Noah was diagnosed, Buble, now 46, and his wife (and Noah’s mother) Luisana Lopilato, 34, took time away from work to support their son as he went through chemotherapy. Noah has thankfully been in remission and cancer-free since 2017.
Michael Buble explained to the Telegraph that it was necessary for him to put his career on hold because his priority was taking care of my family and protecting my mental health. In fact, he added that he didn’t think he would ever perform again.
“It wasn’t even on my radar,” he said.
However, over time, Buble’s mental health improved and he felt he was ready to get back to music. The singer recently released a new album, entitled Higher.
During an interview with The Sun, he said that the album’s title track is an extra special song. And that’s because Noah, now 8, helped write the song!
How to Cope When Your Child Has Been Diagnosed With Cancer
If your child is diagnosed with childhood cancer, like Michael Buble, it may seem like the dreams you have for your family are falling apart. It is important to try to keep a level head after you have fully felt all of your emotions around the diagnosis.
The Value of Using a Social Worker During Treatment
But it is also important to feel all of those emotions that come along with receiving a childhood cancer diagnosis.
As a parent, remember that you are not alone in this journey; your child’s oncologist and care team are there to guide you and provide information and answers. Oncological social workers are a fantastic resource to help you sort out the financial aspects of cancer treatment, as well as other cancer-related issues. Skilled psychologists and counselors can be accessed to help you maintain good mental health through your child’s cancer journey, to the best of your ability.
And do not be afraid to reach out to your support system — friends, family, etc.–” for help through this process. This is what Noah’s parents did to cope with their son’s liver cancer diagnosis. No one expects you to handle everything on your own.
Understanding Liver Cancer
Liver cancer begins in the liver an organ located beneath the diaphragm and above the stomach. The most common form of the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma, but there are other types of liver cancers as well, such as hepatoblastoma, which is what Michael Buble’s son Noah was diagnosed with.
Related: Liver Cancer Survivor Joel Naftelberg Learned to Dance on His Problems
While we know that any type of liver cancer in children is extremely rare, the most common type of pediatric liver cancer is in fact hepatoblastoma, as previously stated.
Blood tests, ultrasounds, CT scans, MRIs and angiograms are generally used to confirm a liver cancer diagnosis. A liver biopsy, when a small piece of tissue is removed and analyzed for cancerous cells, may also be performed.
Oftentimes, a liver transplant is considered the best plan when the patient is eligible. For cases of recurrent liver cancer and cancer that has spread throughout the body, your doctor may consider targeted therapy, immunotherapy or chemotherapy as the next step.
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