The teams at Brain Tumor Network and Bright Spot Network collaborated closely to design a coloring book and guide called Coloring Cancer: A Colorful Way to Understand Brain Tumors. Featuring illustrations by cancer survivor and community advocate Chelsea Gomez, the book combines engaging artwork with simple, supportive explanations to help families talk about a brain tumor diagnosis.
Families navigating a brain tumor diagnosis often lack tools to help children understand what’s happening. Brain tumors can create changes that feel confusing or scary for kids, including shifts in personality or behavior, changes in noise tolerance or energy levels, or sudden disturbances in daily routines.
Together, both organizations wanted to create something that could gently explain these changes, remind children that none of this is their fault, and give parents a supportive way to start difficult conversations. That vision became the inspiration for this coloring book, with each page created with careful intention. The book focuses on the challenges families most often face and presents them in an approachable, meaningful, engaging, and child-friendly way.
Our hope is that this coloring book becomes both a creative outlet and a conversation starter guide for families. We want children to have a safe way to explore their feelings, ask questions, and make sense of the changes they might be seeing. We also want parents and caregivers to feel supported with language and guidance that can make hard moments a little easier.
By coloring together, talking together, and sharing time together, families can stay connected and feel less alone during incredibly trying times. We encourage families to explore the book side by side with their children. Sometimes, doing something creative together opens the door to the conversations that matter most.
Visit www.braintumornetwork.org to download a free, printable copy of Coloring Cancer: A Colorful Way to Understand Brain Tumors.
About the Author
Alexandra Berkovits, LCSW, OSW-C, is the Lead Social Work Navigator at the Brain Tumor Network, where she oversees the delivery of compassionate, comprehensive psychosocial support and provides personalized navigation to patients and families with primary brain tumors.
About the Brain Tumor Network
The mission of the Brain Tumor Network is to provide free, individualized navigation to help patients and loved ones manage a primary brain tumor diagnosis, overcome treatment obstacles, and facilitate access to quality healthcare.
A sample page from Coloring Cancer appears below. Go ahead. Color outside the lines.
Download Coloring Cancer: A Colorful Way to Understand Brain Tumors