How to Navigate Your Child’s Cancer: Advocacy, Support, and Survival with Laura DeKraker Lang-Ree
When a child is diagnosed with cancer, parents are thrown into a world they were never prepared for.
In this episode of Take Care, Melody Mulaik sits down with Laura DeKraker Lang-Ree, author of The Cancer Parents Handbook: What Your Oncologist Doesn’t Have Time to Tell You, to uncover what truly happens beyond the hospital walls.
Laura shares her personal journey as a parent navigating her child’s cancer diagnosis, and the critical gaps in support that inspired her to write a practical, real-life guide for families.
This conversation goes beyond medical treatment. It dives into advocacy, emotional resilience, building a support system, and how to care for yourself while caring for your child.
If you or someone you love is facing childhood cancer, this episode offers guidance, clarity, and hope.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- How to advocate for your child in a complex healthcare system—even if you feel overwhelmed
- How to build a strong support system and confidently ask for help during a crisis
- Practical ways to manage the long journey of childhood cancer while protecting your own well-being
- Key hospital and community resources most parents don’t know exist (but should use)
- How to prepare for life after treatment, including survivorship and long-term health considerations
Timestamps:
- [00:00] A parent’s reality: the shock of a childhood cancer diagnosis and feeling completely unprepared
- [03:00] The story behind The Cancer Parents Handbook and why it had to be created
- [06:00] The 3 essentials: advocacy, building your support system, and self-care during the journey
- [09:00] Hidden resources parents should know: social workers, child life services, and support groups
- [12:00] Why caregivers must prioritize their own well-being (and how “tag team parenting” helps)
- [25:00] Looking ahead: survivorship, long-term effects, and empowering your child beyond treatment
Resources:
- Laura DeKraker Lang-Ree’s website
- The Cancer Parent’s Handbook: What Your Oncologist Doesn’t Have Time To Tell You
