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ECENT YEARS have seen a dramatic increase in the understanding of psychologic issues that confront cancer patients. Interventions have been developed to assist patients in coping with their disease, its effect on their lives, and the threat of potential death. The families of these patients have also received attention and consultation. Traditionally, “family” usually refers to spouse; children in the families of cancer patients may actually receive little attention from health professionals. The necessity for preventative interventions for these children is now thought to minimize emotional difficulties at a later date. A previous paper’ described a sequence of psychosocial interventions that were developed to facilitate coping and foster long-term adaptation in children of all ages who have a seriously ill parent. This article focuses on the particular needs of adolescent children who have a parent with cancer. We will briefly review the literature on childhood mourning. examine some specific developmental issues of adolescence and the impact of a parent’s illness. and discuss the bereaved adolescent.

Parental death during childhood may have enduring traumatic effects. This paper discusses a sequence of preventive interventions for children during the course of a parent's fatal illness. The approach is intended to prepare them to cope with the eventual loss of the parent and to foster their long-term adaptation.