Books for children whose parents have been diagnosed with breast cancer

Helping Families Talk About Cancer: Layla’s Story

At Kettering General, Breast Care Support Worker Layla has spent nearly seven years supporting people with breast cancer and their families in every aspect of their wellbeing. Her role is to check patients’ welfare, signpost them to helpful resources, and provide holistic support. One area she noticed that needed more attention was helping parents talk to their children about a cancer diagnosis.

“A lot of parents didn’t know where to start with these conversations,” Layla explains. “There were only one or two books available for children, and I felt this needed to be addressed.”

Inspired by an initiative at Brighton and Sussex Hospital, where book boxes had been successfully used to support children of parents with cancer, Layla brought the idea to Kettering. With guidance from the team in Brighton and Sussex and successful funding from Northamptonshire Health Charity, she established a collection of books and resources for families.

The books offer a range of support depending on a child’s needs. Some are directly about cancer, such as B is for Breast Cancer, which explains treatments and what may happen in an accessible way. Others, like The Invisible String or No Matter What, do not mention cancer but help children manage anxiety and maintain emotional connection.

“Sometimes all children need to know is that they are loved and involved in everything. These books help start conversations in a gentle, age-appropriate way, and reassure children that their bond with their parent remains strong, even through illness,” Layla said.

For families dealing with metastatic breast cancer, Layla also uses “PIP Kits” which are small, age-appropriate resources designed to help children and parents maintain a sense of closeness and manage fears or worries. The kits include coping tools and cards that address common concerns, helping children understand that not all worries are theirs to carry. These kits are provided with support from the Fruitfly Collective, a supportive online forum for parents with cancer, run by Dr Caroline Leak, who offers guidance, information, and practical support to help families navigate conversations with their children.

Layla wanted to ensure the books and kits met the different needs of children. Some children want detailed, scientific explanations about cancer, while others are looking for comfort and reassurance. To achieve this, she worked closely with a consultant in clinical oncology at Brighton and Sussex Hospital, the team she initially contacted to help bring the project to life.

Thanks to generous supporters, families at Kettering General now have access to book stations and resources that help parents explain cancer to their children, offering comfort, guidance, and reassurance in difficult times.

To support this and more initiatives that help people in their most difficult times please donate today.