How to Cope if Your Child is Diagnosed With Cancer
- If you have been on social media lately, then you have seen the viral video of a family shaving their heads for their childhood cancer warrior, little Nadine.
- Nadine was recently diagnosed with a stage 4 yolk sac tumor, which is a rare, malignant tumor of cells that line the yolk sac of the embryo.
- 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.
To the tune of Andra Day's Rise Up, adults, children and other family members over FaceTime all shave their heads to show Nadine she is not alone. Tears stream down some faces; it is understandably an emotional moment for this family, as they support their youngest member with childhood cancer.
Read More"The fact that everyone did this, you guys are an amazing family!!" TikTok user @xonaniee writes. "That's what family does," another user adds.@thiqqd Shaving our heads for our baby Nadine who's kicking cancers ass! #cancerawareness #childhoodcancer #childhoodcancerawareness ♬ Rise Up – Andra Day
"To face the unknown.. so painful! No matter how strong we want to be… it does break us.. stage 3 cancer survivor myself! Miracles do happen," @lettyargueta comments.
Nadine's Childhood Cancer Battle
In another video posted days later, the family shares details of Nadine's childhood cancer battle.
@thiqqd The beginning of Nadine's Journey🎗 #cancerawareness #childhoodcancer #childhoodcancerawareness ♬ When I Look At You – Miley Cyrus
The video reveals that she was recently diagnosed with a stage 4 yolk sac tumor, which is a rare, malignant tumor of cells that line the yolk sac of the embryo. These cells normally become ovaries or testes, and the cause of a yolk sac tumor is unknown, according to the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.
While Nadine's age is unknown, this tumor is most often found in children before the ages of 1 to 2.
Nadine is currently undergoing six rounds of chemotherapy that will last for 18 weeks. The hope is that the chemo will shrink her tumor, the video states, which will allow doctors to operate on the tumor in a few months time.
How to Cope if Your Child is Diagnosed With Cancer
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. But it is also important to feel all of those emotions that come along with receiving a childhood cancer diagnosis.
The Value of Using a Social Worker During Treatment
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. No one expects you to handle everything on your own.
Contributing: SurvivorNet staff
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