Talking to kids about cancer

Explaining a diagnosis of cancer to children or teenagers can feel difficult and overwhelming. The information here provides a starting point for having a series of conversations about cancer.

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Talking about cancer

Research shows that being open helps children cope with the cancer diagnosis of someone close to them.

Talking about the diagnosis

Among the many decisions you need to make will be when, where and how to talk to the children and young people in your life.

Talking about the treatment

Cancer treatment can be challenging for the whole family, but children and young people often manage better when they know what to expect.

After treatment

For many people, the end of active treatment is a time of relief and celebration, but it can also be a time of mixed emotions.

Living with advanced cancer

If cancer comes back or spreads, it can be an emotional and challenging time for everyone, including children.

Finding support and information

Cancer Council can provide information and support, and can point you in the right direction for specialised assistance.

Need to talk?

Call 13 11 20 to talk to a health professional Or email us your questions.

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Key resource

The information on this page is also available for download.

Talking to Kids About Cancer

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This information was last updated in March 2026. See who reviewed this content.

Joanna Fardell, Senior Research Fellow and Deputy Director, The Behavioural Sciences Unit, School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Medicine, UNSW, NSW; Dr Diana Adams, Medical Oncologist, Macarthur Cancer Therapy Centre and GenesisCare Campbelltown, NSW; Emma Bowne, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council SA; Ken Colbert, Consumer; Cara Dahl, Team Leader – Online Support, Cancer Hub, and ACA Registered Counsellor, NSW; Elizabeth Egan, Clinical Nurse Consultant – Oncology, St John of God Subiaco Hospital, WA; Dr Maria Ftanou, Director, Psychosocial Oncology Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC; Nat Fuss, Senior Clinician, Canteen, SA; Helena Hobson, Senior Social Worker, Cancer Centre, Fiona Stanley Hospital and South Metropolitan Health Service, WA; Nadine Macbeth, Social Work Team Leader, Cancer and Chronic Care, Westmead Hospital, NSW; Damian Ragusa, General Manager – Services and Programs, Camp Quality; The Team at Redkite; Alexandra Wright, Consumer.

We would also like to thank the health professionals, consumers, organisations and editorial teams who have worked on previous editions of this title, and we are grateful to the parents and young people whose real-life stories have added to the richness and relevance of this booklet.

We also thank and acknowledge Dr Paula K Rauch, American Cancer Society, Macmillan Cancer Support, Jessica Watt and Diane McGeachy for permission to use their work as source material.

View the Cancer Council NSW editorial policy.