Kanske jag kan ha cancer för en dag för att få uppmärksamhet : Att vara syskon till ett barn med cancer

Sammanfattning: Background: Almost one child a day is diagnosed with cancer in Sweden. When a child is affected with cancer a whole family, not least siblings will face a new way of life. A sibling’s relationship is unique and can only be fully understood by the ones that have experienced it themselves. There are many advantages in involving family in the caring of a child and also to see the family as a unit. Aim: The aim of the study was to illuminate siblings’ experiences of living in a family with a child with cancer. Methods: This is a literature review based on the result of ten scientific articles with qualitative approach. All articles have been examined to ensure the qualitative value of them and have been textual analyzed. Included articles have qualitative approaches to seek for depth and find siblings’ experiences. Chosen theoretical framework has been used to further lift the result. Results: Four main themes emerged from the result; altered living, need of information, anxiety and grief and support interventions. What these four have in common is that the way of life was altered. Conclusion: Siblings to a child with cancer is an exposed group both physically, mentally and emotionally. There are still gaps to fill regarding what nurses can do to identify and meet siblings needs during a cancer period and altered living. Clinical significance: This literature review can contribute to enhanced knowledge about what it is like being a sibling to a child with cancer. Key words: siblings, cancer, altered living