When Your Child Has Cancer
- Actor Billy Baldwin announced in October 2019 that his then-17-year-old son, Vance Baldwin, had been fighting cancer for a year.
- The announcement, which was met with a massive outpouring of love and support for Vance and the entire Baldwin family, served as an inspiration to people close to the Baldwins.
- If your child is diagnosed with childhood cancer, like Billy Baldwin, it may seem like the dreams you have for your family are falling apart. But it’s important to try to keep a level head after you’ve fully felt all of your emotions around the diagnosis.
The announcement, which was met with a massive outpouring of love and support for Vance and the entire Baldwin family, served as an inspiration to people close to the Baldwins.
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Billy Baldwin, a Massapequa, New York, native best known for his famous family and his roles in the films Backdraft and Sliver, didn't disclose the stage or type of cancer his son was battling. He did, however, thank supporters of Vance during his cancer battle, and included Dr. Lawrence Piro, who specializes in blood cancers known as hematologic malignancies which include leukemia and lymphoma.
"Thank you #drlawrencepiro… you are an amazing man!!" Billy Baldwin wrote on Instagram.
Dr. Lawrence Piro talks to SurvivorNet about the doctor-patient relationship.
He also shared that his son was treated with chemotherapy.
"He (Vance) went through 28 rounds of chemo yet stayed VERY positive, focused and kept his life as normal as possible… every single day. Kid's a tough son of a bitch. Sharp as a tack. Funny as hell. Tough as nails. Heart of gold."
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In his own Instagram post, Vance Baldwin confirmed that he's now cancer-free!
Billy Baldwin and his wife Chynna Phillips, who's a member of the music group Wilson Phillips and rose to fame in the early 1990s, have been sharing regular updates about their close-knit family in the months since Vance completed his cancer battle.
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How to Cope When Your Child Has Been Diagnosed With Cancer
If your child is diagnosed with childhood cancer, like Billy Baldwin, it may seem like the dreams you have for your family are falling apart. But it’s important to try to keep a level head after you’ve fully felt all of your emotions around the diagnosis.
The Value of Using a Social Worker During Treatment
But it’s also important to feel all of those emotions that come along with receiving a childhood cancer diagnosis.
As a parent, remember that you are not alone in this journey; your child's oncologist and care team are there to guide you and provide information and answers. Oncological social workers are a fantastic resource to help you sort out the financial aspects of cancer treatment, as well as other cancer-related issues. Skilled psychologists and counselors can be accessed to help you maintain good mental health through your child's cancer journey, to the best of your ability.
And don’t be afraid to reach out to your support system friends, family, etc. for help through this process. No one expects you to handle everything on your own.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
