Parenting With Cancer: How to Talk to Your Children About Your Diagnosis

Being diagnosed with cancer is life-altering—but for parents, it comes with an added emotional weight. After hearing the words “You have cancer,” many parents immediately worry about their children. How do you explain what’s happening? Should you tell them everything? And how do you keep them emotionally safe while managing your own health?

At Cancer Care Parcel, we understand the complexity of parenting through cancer. That’s why we hosted a special webinar, “Parenting with Cancer: Helping Children Understand Your Cancer,” featuring Cinda McDonald, RDH, M.Ed., CCLS, GCCA-C, CTRS-C, a leading expert in child life programming and psychosocial support for children of seriously ill patients.

About the Speaker

Cinda McDonald is the System Director of the Palliative Care Child Life Program at Baylor Scott & White Health, where she’s supported over 24,000 children whose loved ones are seriously or terminally ill. Her journey into child life began after a hand injury ended her career as a dental hygienist. She retrained as a Certified Child Life Specialist and brought her passion to both paediatric and adult palliative care.

Cinda pioneered one of the first adult hospital-based child life programmes in the United States, and now leads a team of 10 specialists across Texas. She also mentors other child life professionals across the U.S. and Canada and volunteers with the Kidd Kraddick Foundation’s Kidd’s Kids trip to Disney World, supporting children and families dealing with life-limiting medical conditions.

Connect with Cinda:
Website – Palliative Care Child Life Program at Baylor Scott & White Health
LinkedIn – Cinda McDonald on LinkedIn

What the Webinar Covers

In this heartfelt and informative session, Cinda shares expert guidance on how to approach the difficult topic of cancer with children in a way that is honest, age-appropriate, and empowering. She addresses key concerns such as:

• When and how to tell your children you have cancer
• Whether you need to use the word "cancer" at all
• How to tailor conversations for different age groups
• Responding to difficult questions, including "Are you going to die?"
• Understanding behavioural signs that children are struggling
• How to help kids cope while maintaining a sense of normality

Cinda offers practical tools, sample language, and reassurance for parents at every stage of the cancer journey. She also explains the importance of routine, honest communication, and recognising when extra support is needed.

Why This Matters

Parents often try to protect their children by staying silent. But research shows that children cope better when they’re included, supported, and given space to express their emotions. This webinar is designed to empower you to parent through cancer with confidence, compassion, and clarity.

Watch the webinar to gain insight, reassurance, and resources to help you support your children through this life-changing experience

Here are some useful flyers that Cinda has also supplied to supplement her talk