In this edition of Contact, we highlight organisations providing vital practical and emotional support for siblings. Experts offer strategies and resources to help those whose brothers and sisters have cancer. We also feature personal stories from parents and siblings who share the challenges they had and the support that helped them through.
Evie Mattison was nine years old when her brother, Dan, was diagnosed with leukaemia as a teenager in 2014. Here, she describes what helped her during Dan’s treatment, and how her family’s experiences have shaped her life, studies and ambitions.
Colette Robinson-Mellor's daughter, Hollie, was diagnosed with an eye cancer, called retinoblastoma, aged 13 months in 2024. Here, Colette tells us how Hollie’s brother, Ted, who was four at the time of his sister’s diagnosis, helped and supported the whole family, and how they also navigated his own worries.
When a child or young person is diagnosed with cancer, this is felt across the whole family, and though not undergoing treatment themselves, siblings are often affected in ways that may be less visible but deeply felt. Here, Dr Claire Wright, Clinical Psychologist at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, explains how siblings might feel, and offers tips and advice to help support them.
Rebecca Wood is CEO of Tom’s Trust, a charity that provides psychological support to children with brain tumours and their families. Here, she explains how the charity recognised the need to help families support the brothers and sisters of children with cancer by developing an expert-written sibling toolkit.
Rosa Kaminska’s son, George, was diagnosed with T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma in December 2022 aged six. Here, she explains the impact of this on George’s sister, Anna, what helped them as a family during his early treatment, and offers advice to others.
Parents have told us that it would be helpful to have some information to give to their child’s school. This is to help them understand what they can do to help both before and after your child has died. They have also suggested it may help to have some guidance for schools about how to talk to the rest of your child’s class, and what to do if your child still has brothers or sisters attending school.
Elizabeth’s daughter, Sarah, who also has Down syndrome, was diagnosed with leukaemia in 2016, aged 15. Here, she tells us how her youngest daughter, Hannah, then eight, provided support to her sister, and about the challenges of balancing family life while a child is on treatment.
Barretstown in Ireland offers free, specially designed camps and programmes for children living and families living with cancer and other serious illnesses. Here, Siobhan Kavanagh, its Director of Medical and Programme, tells us about their support for siblings.
When a child faces cancer, the impact extends to the entire family. Rich Driffield, CEO of The Joshua Tree, discusses the charity's mission to support patients and their siblings.
