title: Childhood brain cancer and its psychosocial impact on survivors and their parents: A qualitative thematic synthesis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The multiple late-effects experienced by survivors of childhood brain tumors, are not only a source of great distress for survivors, but also for their parents and siblings. The aim of this review is to systematically identify and synthesize qualitative evidence on how survivors of childhood brain tumors and their parents experience life after surviving childhood brain tumors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Based on literature search in seven databases, 10 qualitative studies, published between 2004 and 2014 were included.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Surviving a childhood brain tumor was experienced as paradox for survivors and their parents. While parents and survivors celebrated making it through the cancer experience, they nonetheless encountered a world with loss and new challenges. In short, the experience of survival was a bittersweet experience for survivors and their parents. Survivors and their parents experienced change that included living with uncertainty, intensification of the parenting role, a changing social world, a different way of being, and the need for additional help.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results from this synthesis reinforce that surviving a childhood brain tumor should be viewed as a point on a continuum of living with a brain tumor. Psychosocial effects of surviving brain cancer affect the entire family unit. A need for psychosocial support is evident, although development of such supports necessitates a more full understanding of challenges face by the child affected, their parents, and siblings. The limitations noted in this synthesis reinforce that more qualitative research is needed in this subject area.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, College of Nursing, University of Manitoba, R3T 2N2, Winnipeg, Canada. Electronic address: Roberta.Woodgate@umanitoba.ca.
authors.forename: Roberta L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Woodgate
authors.affiliation: Department of Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology, Marquette University, Schroeder Health & Education Complex, 561 N 15th Street, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
authors.forename: Ketan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tailor
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, CancerCare Manitoba, R3E 0V9, Winnipeg, Canada.
authors.forename: Rochelle
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yanofsky
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Neuro-Oncology, CancerCare Manitoba, R3E 0V9, Winnipeg, Canada.
authors.forename: Magimairajan Issai
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Vanan
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D035781:Siblings / Q000523:psychology*; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Brain tumor; Cancer survivors; Childhood cancer; Parents; Thematic synthesis