Childhood cancer's emotional aftermath can be overwhelming, often lasting even long after treatments have ended. But here’s where it gets controversial—many people assume that once the cancer is gone, so are the emotional scars. Unfortunately, new research suggests otherwise. A study recently published in the esteemed journal Pediatric Research reveals that symptoms of post-traumatic stress, anxiety, and depression are still common among childhood cancer survivors and their parents more than a year after the medical battle concludes. This highlights an important truth: the psychological consequences of pediatric cancer can be long-lasting and profound.
The study was spearheaded by Maya Yardeni, a doctoral student at Bar-Ilan University and a senior psychologist specializing in Pediatric Hemato-Oncology at Sheba Medical Center. It was conducted with the guidance of Professors Ilanit Hasson-Ohayon from Bar-Ilan and Dalit Modan-Moses from Sheba Medical Center. The research offers fresh insights into how trauma can develop not just from a single traumatic event, but also from the persistent stress associated with prolonged hospital stays, invasive procedures, ongoing fears, and the uncertainty that characterizes pediatric cancer treatment.
"Even after the physical treatment ends, both children and their parents can continue to grapple with intense feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression," explains Prof. Hasson-Ohayon, who leads the Rehabilitation Psychology Lab at Bar-Ilan University. "Pediatric cancer is a shared journey filled with unpredictability and fear. Our findings demonstrate the importance of ongoing psychological screening and support for both children and their parents well into the survivorship phase."
In cases of childhood cancer, the experience is inherently collective—parents are often by their child's side throughout the entire journey, witnessing distressing moments and experiencing their own sense of helplessness and loss of control. Over time, this shared exposure can result in residual psychological trauma for the entire family, long after the cancer has been physically eradicated.
To explore this, the researchers conducted a cross-sectional study involving 118 childhood cancer survivors aged between 7 and 21 years, along with their parents. All participants were at least one year past the end of treatment. The study measured symptoms of post-traumatic stress, anxiety, and depression via established questionnaires. Researchers also gathered medical data and sociodemographic information from medical records, enabling them to compare the children's self-reports with their parents' perceptions.
The results were striking: psychological distress remains highly prevalent among survivors even after treatment is completed. Furthermore, the symptoms of trauma, anxiety, and depression tend to be interconnected. Interestingly, the study uncovered that parents often perceived their children's emotional struggles as more intense—sometimes more than the children themselves reported—suggesting that parental stress can influence how they interpret their child's emotional state.
This research carries an essential message for healthcare providers. Long-term follow-up care should extend beyond just monitoring physical health; it must include compassionate, ongoing assessments of emotional well-being for both children and their parents. Giving priority to the children’s own accounts of their mental health and offering personalized psychosocial support throughout the survivorship process could dramatically improve long-term quality of life for these families.
Encouragingly, the research team is now working on a follow-up study to evaluate whether trauma-focused psychotherapy for parents can reduce long-term trauma symptoms and help strengthen family resilience. This proactive approach aims to address what many overlook: the emotional scars that persist long after the cancer has been conquered.
Funded by a grant from the Israel Cancer Association, this study underscores a vital shift in pediatric oncology care—recognizing that healing isn’t just physical. What are your thoughts? Do you believe current survivorship programs adequately address long-term psychological health, or is there still much work to do? Share your views and join the conversation below.
