Abstract

In paediatric practice depression is more commonly seen in parents than in children. The prevalence of depression related to cancer death in children is low because the concept of death as a permanent biological process usually does not develop until the age of nine. However, post-surgical depression in children may manifest as irritability, excessive clinging to parents, rebellious behaviour and school phobia.

Keywords: Hodgkin’s disease; Patients trust; Diagnosis time; Subsequent treatments; Cancer surgery; Psychological approach