Getting Better Together

This communication is centred in presenting the impact that paediatric cancer can have on the brothers and sisters of a child patient.
Although the studies about this topic have increased in the last few years, they are still rare.
However, the investigations have revealed what the diagnosis and later effects of child cancer can entail for the siblings of the patient: identification and socialization problems, necessity of compensation, early adoption of great responsibilities, feelings of abandonment, blame, shame or sadness.

Gradual awareness of these facts must lead to the establishment of educative services for siblings and the development of confrontational strategies that correlate positively with a better adaptation to the disease by all the family. Therefore, starting with the identification of the main needs of brothers and sisters of a child suffering from cancer, this paper offers some guidelines and educative intervention strategies. The objective will be to reduce the negative effects, and to harness the positive interactions and the adjustment of siblings fighting cancer; this being one additional approach in the multidisciplinary work to support the holistic needs of children and young people with medical health problems.

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