Quality of life was investigated among Swedish mothers (n=118) and fathers (n=83) of children on (n=57) and off (n=68) cancer treatment. Parents completed the Göteborg Quality of Life Instrument, measuring (a) burden of 30 symptoms organized as follows: depression, tension, head, heart–lung, metabolic, musculo-skeletal, and gastrointestinal-urinary symptoms, and (b) experience of well-being with regard to 18 items organized as follows: physical, social, and mental well-being. Fathers reported higher mental well-being than mothers and more mothers than fathers reported symptoms of depression. Within the same family (n=70), mothers reported lower mental well-being and more symptoms than fathers. Parents of children on treatment (n=92) reported lower social and mental well-being and more symptoms of depression than parents with children off treatment (n=101). The findings suggest that fathers experience a better quality of life than mothers and that parents of children off treatment enjoy a better quality of life than parents of children on treatment.