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Cancer: Resource List

Books for Children

Ages 4 to 8

  • In Mommy's Garden: A Book To Help Explain Cancer To Young Children; by Neyal J. Ammary; illustrated by Christopher Risch; Canyon Beach Visual Communications, 2003
  • Kathy's Hats: A Story of Hope; by Trudy Krisher, Nadine Westcott (illustrator); Concept Books, 1992
  • Michael's Mommy Has Breast Cancer; by Lisa Torrey; Hibiscus Press, 1999
  • Sammy's Mommy Has Cancer: A Story for Children Who Have a Loved One With Cancer; by Sherry Kohlenberg; Stevens, Gareth, Inc.; 1994
  • My Brain Tumour Adventures: The Story Of A Little Boy Coping With A Brain Tumour; Sharon Dempsey; illustrated by Gabbie Collins; Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2003
  • Paper Chain; by Claire Blake, Eliza Blanchard, Kathy Parkinson; Health Press, 1998
  • Someone I Love is Sick: Helping Very Young Children Cope with Cancer in the Family; by McCue, Kathleen; Gathering Place Press, 2009
  • What Is Cancer Anyway? Explaining Cancer to Children of All Ages; by Karen Carney; Dragonfly Publishing, 1998
  • When Mommy Had A Mastectomy; Nancy Reuben Greenfield; illustrated by Ralph Butler: Bartleby Press, 2005
  • When Someone You Love Has Cancer: A Guide To Help Kids Cope; written by Alaric Lewis, illustrated by R.W. Alley; One Caring Place Abby Press, 2005
  • You and Your Cancer: A Child's Guide; by Lynda Cranston; BC Decker, 2001

Ages 9 to 12

  • After Ever After; by Jordan Sonnenblick; Scholastic Press, 2010
  • Bald-Headed Princess: Cancer, Chemo and Courage; by Maribeth Ditmars; Magination Press, 2010
  • Cancer (What's It Like?); by Angela Royston; Heinemann Library, 2005
  • Cancer; by Angela Royston; Heinemann Library, 2005
  • Cancer Drugs; by Judith Matray-Devoti; Chelsea House, 2006
  • My Mom Has Cancer; by Shari Lichtenstein; Ruby's Ink, 1997
  • Our Family Has Cancer, Too!; by Christine Clifford, Jack Lindstrom (Illustrator); Pfeifer-Hamilton Publishing, 1997
  • Dancing Through the Shadows; by Theresa Tomlinson; DK Ink, 1997
  • The Year My Mother Was Bald; by Ann Speltz; Magination Press, 2003
  • You and Your Cancer: A Child's Guide; by Lynda Cranston; B.C. Decker, 2001

Young Adult

  • Cancer (Diseases and People); by Steven I. Benowitz; Enslow Publishers, 1999
  • Chemotherapy; by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen; Thomson/Gale, 2004
  • The C-Word: Teenagers and Their Families Living with Cancer; by Elena Dorfman; 2nd ed.; NewSage Press, 1998

Books for Adults

  • Cancer In Our Family; Helping Children Cope With a Parent’s Cancer; by Joan Hermann; American Cancer Society, 2008
  • Cereal for Dinner; Strategies, Shortcuts and Sanity for Moms Battling Illness; by Kristine Breese; St. Martin's Griffin, 2004
  • Childhood Brain and Spinal Cord Tumors: A Guide for Families, Friends, and Caregivers); by Shiminski-Maher, Cullen, Sansalone; O'Reilly & Associates, 2002
  • Childhood Cancer: A Parent's Guide to Solid Tumor Cancers (2nd ed); by Honna Janes-Hodder, Nancy Keene; O'Reilly & Associates, 2002
  • Childhood Cancer Survivors: A Practical Guide to Your Future; by Keene, Hobbie, and Ruccione; O'Reilly & Associates, 2000
  • Childhood Leukemia: A Guide for Families, Friends and Caregivers (3rd ed); by Nancy Keene; O'Reilly & Associates, 2002
  • Children with Cancer: a Reference Guide for Parents; by Jeanne Bracken; Oxford University Pres, 2010
  • Educating The Child With Cancer: A Guide For Parents And Teachers; edited by Nancy Keene; Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation, 2003
  • Emotional Aspects of Childhood Leukemia: A Handbook for Parents; Leukemia Society of America, 1998
  • Flying With Scissors: A Different Perspective on Childhood Cancer; by Bob Wallace; VirtualBookworm.com Publishing, 2005
  • Getting Answers About Cancer: Understanding The Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment;by Julie Henry; BookSurge, 2009
  • Helping Children Understand: A Guide for a Parent with Cancer; by American Cancer Society; call 1-800-ACS-2345
  • Helping Children Understand Cancer: Talking to a Child About Illness in the Family; by Cancer Care (1180 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10036-3602)
  • Living with Childhood Cancer: A Practical Guide to Help Parents Cope; by Leigh Woznick: American Psychological Association, 2002
  • My Child Has Cancer: A Parent's Guide To Diagnosis, Treatment, And Survival; by Della L. Howell; Praeger, 2008

Other Resources

American Cancer Society, Inc.
National Headquarters
1599 Clifton Road NE
Atlanta, GA 30329
Web site: http://www.cancer.org
800-227-2345
Referrals to specialists and local chapters (local units sponsor services for patients and families including transportation programs and some supplies), educational materials.

Association for Research of Childhood Cancer
P.O. Box 251
Buffalo, NY 14225-0251
716-681-4433
No web site is available.
As a parent support group AROCC aids parents of young cancer victims by distributing information on treatment, emotional aspects, and patient services.

Cancer Care, Inc.
1180 Avenue of the Americas, 2nd Floor
New York, NY 10036
800-813-HOPE (813-4673)
Web site: http://www.cancercare.org
Helps people with any type of cancer, at any stage of illness.

Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation
3910 Warner Street
Kensington, MD 20895
800-366-2223
301-962-3520
Web site: http://www.candlelighters.org
Network of peer support groups and contacts for parents of children with cancer; information clearinghouse, a toll-free hotline, publications, referrals for help with problems regarding health insurance, employment and education.

National Cancer Institute
31 Center Drive, MSC 2580
Building 31, Rm. 10A-03
Bethesda, MD 20892-2580
800-4CANCER (422-6237)
301-435-3848
TTY: 800-332-8615
Web site: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics
Spanish Web site: http://www.cancer.gov/espanol/
English/Spanish educational materials, printed information, referrals, cancer information specialists.

National Children's Cancer Society
1015 Locust
Suite 600
St. Louis, MO 63101
314-241-1600
Information and materials.

National Children's Leukemia Foundation
172 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10016
800-GIVE HOPE (Toll-free, Referral Hotline)
212-686-2722
Web site: http://www.leukemiafoundation.org/
Services, support, and referrals to leukemia patients and their families.

Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute
Building 10, Room 13N240
Bethesda, MD 20892
301-496-4256
Web site: http://www.nci.nih.gov/cancertopics/types/childhoodcancers
The Pediatric Oncology Branch of the National Cancer Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) offers overviews of the type of treatments available for children with cancer. Bethesda, Maryland.

Compiled by Catherine Smith, MLS, medical librarian at the Family Health Library, The Children's Hospital, Denver, CO.
Published by RelayHealth.
Last modified: 2011-05-10
Last reviewed: 2010-06-04
This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information is intended to inform and educate and is not a replacement for medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.
© 2011 RelayHealth and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
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