Thousands of London parents are likely to be keeping the news of a loved one’s cancer diagnosis secret from their children, new research reveals.
More than a third of patients wait until treatment is under way or finished before telling them, and 22 per cent never do, according to a new Bupa-commissioned study on 2,000 adults.
The survey, by Opinium Research, found the main reason was not wanting to worry or upset their children.
Nearly a fifth of London parents (18 per cent) worried the news could affect their child’s mental health and did not wish to disrupt their schoolwork. Eight in 10 believe they need help to support children dealing with the diagnosis.
Hannah Milburn, 23, from Bedford, was preparing for her A-levels when her mother Ann was diagnosed with bowel cancer, aged 53. Mrs Milburn did not tell Hannah until she finished her exams. The interior architecture graduate said: “I think Mum waiting was the right thing for me, so I could deal with one thing at a time.”
Julia Ross, of Bupa UK, said: “Withholding information may be more harmful, causing children to become worried.”
