The Rainbow Feelings of Cancer: A Book for Children Who Have a Loved One with Cancer

With nearly two million new cases of cancer diagnosed every year in the U.S. alone, the number of children who must deal with the stress of a loved one's illness is steadily growing. Children need to share what they feel and ask what they want to know when someone in their family has cancer. The Rainbow Feelings of Cancer is a valuable resource in encouraging this conversation between children and parents, or other caregivers.

Chia Martin was diagnosed with colon cancer in 1998, when her daughter Carrie was seven. As the years of her treatment continued, Chia found that Carrrie's artwork provided an invaluable springboard to their talks about the young girl’s feelings. Today, at age ten, Carrie shares what she has named "the rainbow feelings of cancer." This book contains her artwork and her words about the different emotions brought about by her mom's illness. She describes what has been hard for her, and what has helped her.

Anyone who spends time with children whose parents or loved ones have a diagnosis of cancer, can benefit from this beautiful and heartwarming book. Ideal for parents and friends, caregivers, health professionals, hospice workers, teachers and school counselors. The Rainbow Feelings of Cancer does not tell children what they will or should feel. Rather, this book gently invites them into Carrie's world for a moment, allowing them to identify with her experience, offering them an opportunity to speak, draw, or consider their own feelings. While some books focus only on one type of cancer or deal with a particular loss, The Rainbow Feelings of Cancer is useful with any cancer diagnosis, any type of treatment, and at any stage of illness.