Newly diagnosed, and starting treatment
A childhood cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming and raises many questions.
When a child or adolescent is diagnosed with cancer, it is normal to feel shock, anger, and disbelief. The road ahead can seem frightening and hard to grasp. Many families describe the experience as an emotional rollercoaster.
Your clinical treating team will do everything they can to help you understand the diagnosis and next steps, and our range of resources can provide practical information, fill in some of the gaps, and support you and your loved ones during this difficult transition. Some of these resources are included as part of diagnosis information packs in Victoria.
Diagnosis information packs
When your child or adolescent is diagnosed with cancer in Victoria, it will be at either The Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) or Monash Children’s Hospital (MCH), the state’s primary paediatric diagnostic and treatment centres.
You will be given a physical information pack that we have helped put together, and then tailored by your treating team to your individual situation and treatment plan – such as specific contact details, and medication information.
You can view the standard information packs provided to families at both RCH and MCH below.
Newly diagnosed information packs
PICS resources – diagnosis, and starting treatment
Our resources to support you during the childhood cancer diagnosis and starting treatment phases include topics such as:
- understanding a childhood cancer diagnosis, and the next steps
- guidance around tests, treatments and procedures, and managing the challenges associated with them
- information on specific medications used during treatment
- looking after your child, your family, and yourself.
Some of these resources are included as part of diagnosis information packs in Victoria. They have been developed in a variety of formats, such as factsheets, videos, and handbooks.
Below are some highlighted PICS resources and topics. You can access the full range in our resources library.
Understanding a childhood cancer diagnosis
The next steps - what to know when starting treatment
Understanding tests, treatments, and medications
External websites and supports
Whether you are wanting to learn more about childhood cancer, or explore additional supports and services available for you and your family, check out our list of external websites and supports across the treatment phases.
