Cognitive and motor development of infants coping with cancer: Longitudinal observations

The prognosis for infants diagnosed with cancer before the age of 12 months continues to be generally dismal. Consequently, these babies receive very aggressive treatment and regularly endure many events that cause distress. This study followed a cohort of six infants diagnosed with cancer from the onset of treatment utilizing repeated assessments of cognitive and motor development. The purpose of the study was to evaluate systematically the impact of stressful life events and the protective effects of parents' remaining with their children during repeated hospitalizations. Across lengthy and aggressive treatments with chemotherapy, these infants demonstrated no signs of developmental lags or abnormalities, and parents reported generally positive effects for their marriages when remaining in the hospital with their baby. Results are discussed within a framework of coping with stressful life events and the protective effects for infants associated with encouraging parents to remain with their sick children as much as possible during hospitalizations.