The following excerpt is taken from Chapter 16 of Childhood Leukemia: A Guide for Families, Friends, and Caregivers, 3rd Edition by Nancy Keene. To order a book, call (800) 998-9938. Permission is granted to print and distribute this excerpt for noncommercial use as long as the above source is included. The information in this article is meant to educate and should not be used as an alternative for professional medical care.

• My Brother's a Legend
• My Brother Has Leukemia
• For Brothers and Sisters
• My Sister Had Cancer
• From a Sibling
• Siblings: Having Our Say

Cancer is hard on brothers and sisters. Simply understanding the depth of the pain and fears of your healthy children eases their path. Being available to listen, to say, "I hear how painful this is for you," or "You sound scared. I am, too," makes siblings feel that they are still valued members of the family; that even though their brother or sister is absorbing the lion's share of parents' time and care, they are still cherished. Even if parents do not have large amounts of time to spend with them, siblings need to hear that what they feel matters. If parents understand that these overwhelming emotions are normal, expected, and healthy, they can provide solace.

In the hope that telling their stories will illuminate the difficulties faced by the siblings, brothers and sisters of children with cancer shared the above stories.