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Pediatric Cancer and End-of-Life

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Dying and Death in Oncology

Abstract

Children continue to die from cancer. Despite the decline in mortality, pediatric cancer remains the leading cause of death from disease in children ages 1–14, exceeded only by accidental death. Childhood deaths due to cancer represent 58 % of disease-related deaths, outnumbering all other causes of death by disease combined (Curesearch 2015). The death of a child affects many individuals. In addition to the child’s parents and siblings, other family members such as grandparents, cousins and aunts and uncles may be devastated by the child’s death. Friends, teachers, coaches, spiritual leaders, doctors and nurses also experience grief and bereavement when a child dies. Several topics may aid in addressing the needs of various stakeholders including the dying child, parents, siblings, grandparents and a host of community members. In addition, the developmental level of the dying child, the siblings and friends is imperative to include in developing a plan of how to best support some of the key stakeholders. The pain of a child’s death cannot be denied. However, those who are feeling the loss can be best supported by employing some of the strategies included in this writing.

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  1. Pediatric Palliative Care and Ethics, University of Kansas Medical Center, 3901 Rainbow Blvd., Kansas City, MO, MS4004, USA

    Kathleen G. Davis PhD, MSEd

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  1. Kathleen G. Davis PhD, MSEd
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Correspondence to Kathleen G. Davis PhD, MSEd .

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  1. Morsani School of Medicine Tampa General Cancer Center, University of South Florida , Tampa, Florida, USA

    Lawrence Berk

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Davis, K.G. (2017). Pediatric Cancer and End-of-Life. In: Berk, L. (eds) Dying and Death in Oncology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-41861-2_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-41861-2_11

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