Background and Objectives: Leukemia, though proven to be curable, still poses a serious problem for the
country as the number of patients steadily increases every year. To address this concern, a number of studies
were conducted to analyze not just the physical but also the psychological effects of diagnosis on patients.
However, data are still lacking on the effects of this illness on parents of the patients, especially on how parents
cope with the imminent distress brought about by the situation. The study aims to explore the coping
behaviors of parents of leukemia patients towards their children's illness and to determine the factors that
affect the distress of these parents.
Methodology: The coping mechanisms of Filipino parents of leukemia patients and the factors that contribute
further to their distress were investigated. A case study was conducted involving six parents from the Leukemia
Indigent Fund Endowment in the Lung Center of the Philippines who qualified under the inclusion criteria set in
the study. Participants were interviewed using a semi-structured interview guide. Their responses were
recorded, transcribed, and assessed through thematic analysis.
Results and Conclusions: The major coping mechanisms gathered were: Denial, Acquiring Social Support, and
Faith. The nature of their coping mechanisms greatly depends on factors that induced their distress after
diagnosis of their child. On one hand, for those whose distress was provoked by their knowledge that leukemia
is fatal, their immediate coping mechanism was total denial followed by social support from other parents of
leukemia patients. On the other hand, for those whose distress was prompted by the financial constraints that
come along with the illness, while there is denial, the major coping mechanism was acquiring social support in
terms of financial needs. Only after having these immediate actions that they become open to emotional and
moral support, together with other coping mechanisms such as having faith, repression of other activities,
being optimistic or being passive.

Leukemia, Coping Mechanisms, Parents, Distress, Cancer