Negative and positive adaptive behaviors of Thai school-aged children who have a sibling with cancer.

It is a difficult situation for any child who has to set aside some of his or her own personal needs to help an ill sibling. Thus, the child who is experiencing childhood cancer in the family should not be perceived as an external victim of the situation. The child is an insider who is able to adapt and respond to the situation in the family. The nursing care of the family ought to examine and prevent the adverse effects of the situation by providing advice and counseling to parents, as well as to the sibling of the child with cancer. Maintaining positive adaptive behaviors can be achieved by recognition and admiration by parents, grandparents, and health-care providers.