Lecture to Discuss Talking to Children about Cancer
NOTE: A list of sites where the lecture will be available by video conference follows this release.
Talking to Children about Cancer: When a Parent or a Grandparent has Cancer, is the topic of the next Cancer Answers lecture Tuesday, Nov. 9.
The Cancer Care Nova Scotia-hosted event will be held from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.,in the Royal Bank Lecture, Halifax Infirmary and by video conference at 17 sites across the province.
The lecture series is designed to provide Nova Scotians with quality cancer information. The lecture will be presented by Joan Hamilton, clinical nurse specialist with Capital Health Cancer Care Program.
"Cancer is a family affair," said Ms. Hamilton. "As much as we would like to protect children from the stress and upheaval that cancer and treatment can bring, children should feel informed of what is happening, at a level they can understand.
"We know that children experience more distress if they don't have their questions answered, if they don't feel that parents are being open and honest with them."
Ms. Hamilton will discuss suggestions on why and how to explain a cancer diagnosis to children, including topics you should consider, examples of how to say things, and how to answer tough questions.
Cancer Care Nova Scotia, a program of the Department of Health, was created in 1998 to facilitate quality cancer prevention and care for all Nova Scotians. Through Cancer Patient Navigation, health professional education, and standards and guideline development, Cancer Care Nova Scotia supports health professionals in providing patients with high quality care.
Its work with other organizations raises awareness about the importance of healthy lifestyles to reduce cancer risk, and its screening programs educate Nova Scotians about healthy lifestyles and available testing such as Pap tests for cervical cancer and the Home Screening Kit for colon cancer. The goal is to find cancer earlier and treat it better.
The lecture will be available by video conference at the following sites:
- Aberdeen Hospital, New Glasgow
- Cape Breton Regional Hospital, Sydney
- Colchester Regional Hospital, Truro
- Cumberland Regional Health Care Centre, Amherst
- Dartmouth General Hospital, Dartmouth
- Eastern Memorial Hospital, Canso
- Hants Community Hospital, Windsor
- Lillian Fraser Memorial Hospital, Tatamagouche
- Roseway Hospital, Shelburne
- St. Martha's Regional Hospital, Antigonish
- St. Mary's Memorial Hospital, Sherbrooke
- Strait Richmond Hospital, Evanston
- Soldiers Memorial Hospital, Middleton
- South Shore Regional Hospital, Bridgewater
- Valley Regional Hospital, Kentville
- Victoria County Memorial Hospital, Baddeck
- Yarmouth Regional Hospital, Yarmouth