Psychosocial aspects of childhood cancer: a review of the literature.

The literature concerning the psychosocial aspects of childhood cancer is reviewed. The emphasis of the literature is on the impact of the disease on the child and family and depicts the life-situation when faced with childhood cancer and responses to the disease. The literature strongly indicates that families experience serious difficulties and are a population at risk of developing psychosocial problems. The approach of studying the child with cancer and family is discussed and suggestions are made for future research.