Mothers’ Experiences Post-Childhood Cancer Treatment: A Qualitative Study
Jenny Davies is a great friend of the Foundation who is currently completing her PhD in Psychology at Curtin University, exploring the impact of childhood cancer on families. This is a topic that hits close to home for Jenny, with her daughter Amelia having battled childhood cancer when she was 12 years old.
Determined to use their experience to help others, Amelia was inspired to study medicine while Jenny pursued a PhD. On 10 August 2022, Jenny’s honours research was published in the Journal of Child and Family Studies, a peer-reviewed academic journal.
Jenny’s research is a qualitive study on Mothers’ Experiences Post-Childhood Cancer Treatment. The study highlights that the stress and anxiety that comes with a child’s cancer diagnosis does not finish at the end of treatment. Mothers, in fact, experience long-term ramifications.
Some of the key takings from Jenny’s research includes:
- After treatment mothers must adjust to new identities as mothers of children who have been diagnosed with cancer.
- Fear of relapse and late effects makes it difficult for mothers to develop a new narrative for their children and themselves.
- Mothers felt guilt and regret about impact of childhood cancer on siblings and this guilt did not dissipate after end of treatment.
- There is a need for more practical and psychological support tailored to mothers’ individual needs.
We congratulate Jenny on this wonderful achievement and we thank her for her important work. We highly recommend having a look at Jenny’s research paper to gain a better understanding of how a childhood cancer diagnosis effects the whole family.