Hearing the news that your child has cancer or leukaemia is a life changing moment for every parent. One of the first reactions is often to want as much information as possible, as soon as possible.

Because Candlelighters was formed by, and is still run by, parents, we understand how you feel. We know from experience how awful it can be to not understand what’s happening to your own child and which treatments are suitable for the type of cancer they have.

Parents often feel guilty because they don’t know how to answer their child’s questions. It’s easy to feel a bit lost, and indeed, scared, and it’s hard to know where to turn for the best information at such a stressful time.

While the information you find during your research should never replace the expert medical advice of your child’s specialist, the Internet can be a wonderful resource, but take care, not all the information you find there will be accurate or complete.

A good place to start is the Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group (CCLG) which is a national professional body responsible for overseeing the treatment and management of children and teenagers with cancer in the UK. It produces a number of information leaflets and booklets which you may find helpful. Visit www.cclg.org.uk/families