This is part 2 of 3 in a series in which the Goldstream B次元官网网址 Gazette looks at the effect childhood cancer has on a family, from the devastating diagnosis to the financial and emotional hardships that follow. We also take a look at where families can get help, and the special relationships that form between health--care professionals and families.

Three years ago, Noreen BekropoulosB次元官网网址檚 family was plunged into the chaos of cancer treatment when her 13-year-old son, the youngest of five siblings, was diagnosed with Hodgkins lymphoma.

Bekropoulos, a longtime Colwood resident who had dealt with her own diagnosis of breast cancer just six years previously, was B次元官网网址渋n total shockB次元官网网址� and then thought, B次元官网网址淗ere we go again.B次元官网网址�

Her son had been dealing with a persistent cough that didnB次元官网网址檛 respond to medication or puffers, and finally the doctor decided to order an X-ray, she remembers.

B次元官网网址淪he said they rarely do X-rays on kids. And then they found a mass.B次元官网网址�

All classification and staging of pediatric cancers is done at the B.C. ChildrenB次元官网网址檚 Hospital, so Bekropoulos and her son were on a helicopter to the mainland within minutes of the diagnosis, with a nearly dead cell phone and not even a debit card in her purse. She remembers a social worker from the hospital giving her food vouchers and coupons for gas just before they took off.

B次元官网网址淭hat was the only thing I had going to Vancouver.B次元官网网址�

This frantic whirlwind of activity is all too common, with families being uprooted and everything put on hold while a treatment plan is sorted out.

B次元官网网址淚 was in total shock,B次元官网网址� she adds. B次元官网网址淧arents who are going through it, youB次元官网网址檙e just like a horse with blinders on. YouB次元官网网址檙e just breathing.B次元官网网址�

Families can be fractured by a diagnosis of childhood cancer, by the incredible financial strain and by the destruction of any sense of normalcy in their day to day lives.

Emotional support is vital for the whole family, says Bekropoulos, and connecting with other parents can be a lifeline.

B次元官网网址淯nless youB次元官网网址檝e been in that situation, you have no idea what itB次元官网网址檚 like. You do get what you need (from the doctors and nurses), but you donB次元官网网址檛 get that outreach of emotional support,B次元官网网址� she says.

ThatB次元官网网址檚 where the Vancouver Island Family Support Program comes in. An offshoot of the B.C. Childhood Cancer Parents Association, the Family Support Program brings parents together in support groups, funds outings for the whole family to get away from the hospital environment, and also supplies the food vouchers and emergency funds that help get families through those first few devastating days.

The coupons and vouchers that were pressed into BekropoulosB次元官网网址檚 hands as she boarded the helicopter came from the Family Support Program, though she knew barely anything about the organization at the time.

Her whole family, including the son in active treatment B次元官网网址� now 17, he asked that his name not be used for this story, nor any photos B次元官网网址� were also able to participate in a WildPlay romp. ItB次元官网网址檚 one of many sponsored outdoor adventures that help kids just be kids for an afternoon and leave behind the hospital for a few hours.

B次元官网网址淲hen you go through cancer, itB次元官网网址檚 your whole family,B次元官网网址� says Bekropoulos. B次元官网网址淕etting out and connecting with people who have gone through it, meeting other parents, it breaks the isolation. ItB次元官网网址檚 a group that understands your needs and what youB次元官网网址檙e going through.B次元官网网址�

She urges any family going through childhood cancer to contact the organization immediately.

B次元官网网址淩ealize there is help while youB次元官网网址檙e going through it, and youB次元官网网址檙e not the only one in this isolation,B次元官网网址� she says. B次元官网网址淒onB次元官网网址檛 wait to reach out.B次元官网网址�

For more information, visit .

acowan@goldstreamgazette.com

Coming up in the Nov. 5 issue of the Gazette:

Anne Carrelli is a pediatric oncology nurse at Victoria General Hospital. SheB次元官网网址檚 part of a team of nurses, doctors and social workers who treat children with cancer. B次元官网网址淵ou canB次元官网网址檛 help but get invested in every family, because kids are kids B次元官网网址� and they just want to get better,B次元官网网址� Carrelli says.