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Background:

Making major treatment decisions with life-altering consequences is a significant challenge faced by parents of children with cancer. The unique experience of parents is not well represented in the growing literature on cancer treatment decision making (TDM).

Objective:

The objective of this study was to describe the process of parents making major treatment decisions for their children with cancer.

Methods:

Using grounded theory methods, we interviewed 15 parents of 13 children with cancer facing major treatment decisions.

Results:

Parents’ determination to make the right decision was both a demanding responsibility and a natural extension of the parental role. Everything parents encountered and undertook during the TDM process was in the service of making the right decision for their child. All parents expressed conviction that they had made the right decision, but conviction was tempered by doubts …