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Macmillan and Cancerbackup merged in 2008. Together we provide free, high quality information for people affected by cancer through our publications, website and phone service. Find out more|.
Find out how we produce our information|
Cancer and its treatment| often disrupt family life and normal routines. As a result, your childcare needs may change and you may need more support to look after your children.
Being diagnosed with cancer can have a major effect on a parent’s everyday life. It’s often difficult to carry on doing the things you normally do. You may need frequent visits to the hospital for tests, treatments or to see your specialist.
Your treatment or the effects of your cancer may mean that you’re unable to care for your children as you normally would.
This can be upsetting and difficult to accept. Usually this situation is temporary. After you finish your treatment you’ll gradually get stronger and be able to do more.
It’s important to try not to feel guilty if you’re struggling to care for your children. It can be difficult to ask for help, but with the right support some of the stress can be eased. The time you then spend with your children is likely to be more enjoyable and relaxed.
It’s important to ask for help when you need it. Social workers can be a useful contact and support in this situation.
They can advise you about the childcare that’s available in your local area.
Cancer can bring many unexpected expenses, such as paying for extra childcare. Depending on your circumstances you may be able to claim additional benefits and financial assistance that will help you cope with any extra costs.
You might find it helpful to see our information and videos about financial support| and benefits|.
There may also be certain child benefits or tax credits you can apply for:
You can get more information about tax credits from HM Revenue & Customs|.
You can get advice on benefits and how to claim for them by calling our benefits advisers|. We also give grants| to people with cancer that can be put towards extra childcare costs.
There are several sources of help that may be available to help you care for your children. These suggestions may give you some useful ideas:
For some people, support from family and friends is enough to help care for their children. Another family member may be able to help you or take over some of the things you usually do. Children often adapt to this and can learn that it’s part of what it means to be a family. You might want to ask family or friends to do practical things like housework, cooking or shopping; this can free you up to spend more time with your children.
Family and friends can often help with day-to-day activities like picking up your children from school and nursery or taking care of them when you have hospital appointments. Don’t be afraid to ask for help no matter how small the amount of help is. People are usually only too willing and are just waiting to be asked.
If you have children at school or in nursery, it’s a good idea to let their teachers know about your situation. They can then be more sensitive to your child’s needs and let you know if they have any concerns about them. There may be specialists that you’re able to talk to such as a school nurse or child psychologist. They may also be able to help support your child with what they might be going through.
Social services provide a variety of care and support for children and families. Sometimes it’s possible, following an assessment of your needs, for social services to provide a package of care. They work to ensure parents and families have access to the support they need, when they need it. You can contact your local council’s Children’s Information Services to get a list of the childcare services available in your area. This will include local childminders, day care nurseries and out-of-school care.
Some charities can provide free support and practical help with looking after children.
Childcare can be provided by various people and at different costs.
Childminders provide experienced care within their own homes. All childminders have to be registered and are inspected regularly to make sure they meet child welfare standards. You should ask to see their registration and inspection certificates. A childminder can look after up to six children under the age of eight, but no more than three of them can be under five, and only one child under one. Children over eight can also be looked after as long as it doesn't affect the care of the under-eight-year-olds. Costs vary depending on the services they offer. Your local council can give you a list of registered childminders in your area, or the Direct.gov| website can provide you with local childminder contacts. You may also find adverts in your local paper.
Au pairs are usually untrained carers who provide a basic level of childcare and domestic duties. They don’t have to be registered and may not have relevant childcare experience. Au pairs often come from another European country to study English. They help in the home for a maximum of five hours a day and have to be provided with an allowance, meals and their own room. You can find out about au pairs by contacting an agency either through your local paper, the phonebook or on the internet.
Day nurseries provide full- or part-time professional care for children from 0-5 years old. Some provide out-of-school care. They can be private, voluntary or run by a local authority. Prices vary across the country. All three- and four-year-old children are entitled to free care from local authority nurseries for a minimum of 12.5 hours per week for 38 weeks per year. You can search for nurseries on the Direct.gov website or daynurseries.co.uk|
Nannies look after children in the family home and care for children of all ages. There are live-in nannies as well as nannies that visit on a daily basis. Nannies aren’t always trained and don’t have to be registered, although they can voluntarily register. You may prefer to use a registered nanny. Costs vary depending on where you live and whether the nanny lives with you or not. You can find out more by getting in touch with a nanny agency. There’s also information on the Department for Education| website that you might find helpful.
Crèches provide supervised childcare for a limited period of time. Costs vary.
Kids clubs provide care and play for school aged children, usually up until the age of 11. They're often available before and after school. Some school clubs are also available during school holidays. Costs vary.
We hope this information gives you some useful ideas about different options available to you and helps you find the childcare you need. Usually the need for extra support is temporary. When your treatment is over, side effects such as tiredness| will gradually improve, and you’ll be able to get back to your normal family routine. If you're having difficulties with childcare and would like to talk things over, you can contact one of our cancer support specialists|.
For answers, support or just a chat, call the Macmillan Support Line free (Monday to Friday, 9am-8pm)
If you have any questions about cancer, need support or just want someone to talk to, ask Macmillan.
Debbie explains her story of talking to her children when she was diagnosed with breast cancer.