Abstract

BACKGROUND: Cancer education has been a core element of Japan’s National Basic Plan for Promoting Cancer Control since 2012. As school-based programs expand, it becomes increasingly important to understand how such education is perceived by families affected by parental cancer. While cancer education is expected to promote accurate knowledge and reduce stigma, it may also pose unique challenges for children whose parents have cancer. This study explores the perceptions and experiences of cancer education among parents diagnosed with cancer and their children, and it identifies key educational considerations from the perspective of those directly affected.

METHODS: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted between February and September 2020 among elementary- to high-school-aged children (grades 4–12) with a parent diagnosed with cancer and their parents. Participants were recruited through a nonprofit organization that provided support to families whose parents had cancer. Data were collected by mail and analyzed using descriptive statistics and thematic categorization of free-text responses.

RESULTS: Valid responses were obtained from 55 children and 65 parents. Among them, 30.9% of parents and 32.3% of children reported having received cancer education at school. Although more than 80% of parents and 93% of children perceived cancer education as necessary, the reasons differed. Parents emphasized the importance of fostering communication within the family and preparing children for the future. In contrast, children valued the role of education in promoting social understanding, reducing prejudice, and ensuring fair access to information. Parents expressed concerns about the emotional impact of cancer education on their children, requesting notice and emotional support before and after the lessons. However, the children expressed relatively few requests for special considerations, and some appreciated the opportunity to engage in conversations with their parents about cancer.

CONCLUSIONS: Both parents and children acknowledge the importance of school-based cancer education. Parents focused on emotional protection and family dynamics, while children emphasized social understanding and educational equity. These findings demonstrate the value of integrating both perspectives when designing inclusive, sensitive, and flexible cancer education programs in collaboration with families, schools, and healthcare professionals.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.