Background: Childhood cancer entails long and difficult treatment periods that include a lot of time in the hospital as well as close contact with healthcare staff. Previous research on parents’ experience shows that anxiety and fear about recovery or relapse characterize their everyday life.

Aim: The aim of the literature study was to describe children's experiences of living with cancer.

Method: A literature-based study analysing the qualitative articles with focus on childrens’ experiences of living with cancer was conducted.

Results: The results showed three main themes and six sub-themes. Feeling different brings up the children's experience of the physical changes and impairments they experienced that made them feel alone and different. Feeling seen describes the importance of using the right communication for the children to feel involved in their care. To feel safe describes children's feelings about the support from family and relatives. It also describes how children look hopefully at the future and long for them to be healthy.

Conclusion: For children living with cancer, everyday life changes. We argue that the nurses have responsibility to include the child in their own care and to communicate adequately to reduce the risk of suffering.