Childhood cancer patients’ baseline for social affiliation as a determining factor for the self-reported impact of person-based exclusion

Objective: Childhood cancer patients experience a challenging reentry to social activities after diagnosis. This study aims to generate knowledge about the challenges experienced by childhood cancer patients with peers during and after treatment. Design: This study is a qualitative mixed study. Participants: The study included 70 children–34 boys and 36 girls–aged 3 to 17 years who are affiliated with a pediatric oncology unit in Denmark. Findings: Childhood cancer patients experience two types of exclusion: (1) unavoidable diagnosis-related exclusion and (2) person-based exclusion from teachers, peers, and peers’ parents. Person-based exclusion is manifested through the perceived insecurity of peers, misconceptions, and bullying. The impact and degree of these interactions partly depend on the patients’ social affiliation prior to cancer. Implication for Psychosocial Providers: There is a need to understand the exclusion experiences of childhood cancer patients and identify particularly vulnerable children to reduce the self-reported impact of person-based exclusion.