Behaviour problems

Children and young people (CYP) may display changes in their behaviour during cancer treatment due to stress, unfamiliar environments, and medications.  Understanding why this happens can help families and professionals effectively support them.   

On initial admission

CYP, their parents and carers, often find themselves in an emotionally charged and unfamiliar environment, with limited privacy and many new procedures happening. Reactions can vary but it is common for CYP to express their distress through their behaviour.

Frequent interventions such as intravenous infusions, combined with disrupted sleep, can contribute to challenging behaviour. This may present as protest, non-compliance, or a strong need for parental presence. Healthcare professionals should reassure parents/carers that such behaviour is a normal response to sudden changes, unpleased procedures, and unfamiliar staff.

Encourage parents/carers to validate their child’s feelings while maintaining safe boundaries. For example: “I know you are scared, but it’s not okay to hit”. Professionals can support families by modelling this approach.

Ongoing challenging behaviour

Most CYP adapt to their new routine over time, but some can continue to struggle. It is important to identify whether difficulties stem from specific issues (e.g. procedural distress), or broader adjustment challenges. Multidisciplinary support, including play specialists, specialist nurses, psychologists, and social workers can help families develop consistent strategies. CYP may benefit from having choices and control where possible (e.g. deciding where to sit for a procedure). Although in cases of significant mood concerns, psychiatric input may be necessary. 

When to see extra support

  • Behaviour becomes unsafe
  • Distress escalates or becomes persistent
  • Behaviour effects sleep or nutrition
  • CYP becomes withdrawn
  • Parents/carers become overwhelmed

Intertwined challenges leading to behaviour problems 

There is often no single cause of the problems which can be easily fixed and the multiprofessional team, parents and carers, specialist cancer social workers, alongside clinical psychologists may need to work together on a range of areas, such as those linked below.  

Further reading

Last reviewed February 2026