Haskins 1

Adaya Haskins

Mrs. DeBock

English 4 Honors

23 February 2017

Essential Question: How can families cope with cancer?

Working Thesis: Families can cope with cancer.

Refined Thesis: Families can cope with cancer by pragmatism, self-awareness, relying on others,

and communication.

Annotated Bibliography

Landier, Wendy, and Heather Hartrum. Coping with Childhood Leukemia and Lymphoma. White

Plains, NY: Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, 2012. Print.

The concept of cancer and its intentions are not always fully comprehended so Landier

and Hartrum strived to give an accurate understanding. This information comes from a voluntary

health organization called the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Coping with Childhood

Leukemia and Lymphoma focuses on helping cancer patients and their families keep up with

their life as they journey through survivorship. The article assists patients from the beginning of

their diagnosis to reporting back to normal life as coping may be difficult. The patient,

parents, and siblings each have a section that specifically benefits them. Their feelings are first

acknowledged and then a strategy to handle them are stated. These different sections of the

article will respond to my question of how families can cope with cancer. This will support the

idea of communication, relying on others and awareness.

Northfield, Sarah, and Monica Nebauer. "The Caregiving Journey for Family Members of
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Relatives with Cancer: How Do They Cope?." Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing

2010: 567. Academic OneFile. Web. 21 Feb. 2017.

Northfield writes a passage on coping strategies used by caregivers of family members

with cancer. An abundance of information is given on the challenges families can face with

supporting their loved one. The main focus was the external and internal support system. The

desire to be present throughout the patient's journey is great internal support. Many caregivers

turn to support from healthcare professionals because they develop too much stress. The health

care professionals provide relief to the caregivers and the duties that they procure. Multiple

challenges are introduced along with methods and processes to help the situation. The knowledge

on the external and internal support system will exist as a way families can cope with cancer.

Prouty, Anne, et al. "Spiritual Coping: A Gateway To Enhancing Family Communication During

Cancer Treatment." Journal Of Religion & Health 55.1 (2016): 269. Advanced Placement

Source. Web. 20 Feb. 2017.

Spiritual Coping: A Gateway To Enhancing Family Communication During Cancer

Treatment focused on the principle of religious responses due to cancer diagnosis. After cancer

diagnosis, families and others do not necessarily know how to respond. According to the article,

spiritual coping, healthy communication, and balanced functioning are all exceedingly essential.

A survey was assessed through a university-hosted research webpage. The survey was to display

various coping strategies and the percentage in which people responded. Spiritual coping was not

previewed at first, but was added later. Observing the results, spiritual coping contained the

highest percentage. Proutys article supports the way families can cope by communication,

specifically in a religious manner.

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Stoneberg, Marion F. "Listen with Your Heart: Talking With the Person Who Has Cancer."Listen

with Your Heart: Talking With the Person Who Has Cancer. American Cancer Society,

n.d. Web. 21 Feb. 2017.

Listen with Your Heart is a brochure put together by the American Cancer Society. The

purpose of this brochure is to guide caregivers on how to cope with the diagnosis of cancer in

their family. Sometimes individuals do not know how to react to the disease or express their

feelings so the brochure helps with this as well. Stoneberg gave each page a section with in depth

details for simplicity. He went from explaining what cancer is and hearing the news, to how to

cope and maintain everyday life. Sources of support and other resources are embedded as well.

Each section will be used to reinforce ways families can cope with cancer.

ABC ORDERThe Other Side of The Mountain. N.p.: National Children's Cancer Society, n.d.

Print.

The Other Side Of The Mountain is a parents guide to surviving childhood cancer. The

guide is directed to a parents point of view to help cope with obstacles that are possible to occur

during the journey. This source provides information regarding to emotional struggles, spiritual

growth, health insurance, school, and family. Each section contains situational evidence backed

up by coping tips. Parents who have experience with the struggle of maintaining family structure

anticipated their personal advice. Extended resources are also provided. Although this is directed

to parents its accessible and helpful to the entire family. The portion of this guide that is

supportive to how families can cope with cancer is the section related to family and

spirituality. Both will contribute to pragmatism and communication.

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Walshe, Catherine, et al. "Coping Well With Advanced Cancer: A Serial Qualitative Interview

Study With Patients And Family Carers." Plos ONE 12.1 (2017): 1-25. Academic

Search Complete. Web. 20 Feb. 2017.

Catherine Walshes article describes patients initial response to cancer diagnosis and how

their coping strategies have changed over time. Sixteen patients were recruited from Merseyside

and Manchester, UK to take part in an interview. The objective of the interviews were to develop

an idea of how a few individuals cope with their diagnosis. The discussion covered their reaction

from first being diagnosed to current. Focus groups were also created to debate and discuss their

tactics as well. This displayed evidence directly from a patient living with cancer. Each

individual coped differently which was instantly observed from the results of the interviews. The

interview results from Walshes article will be used to support my question of how families can

cope with cancer.