For the Breast of Us

BADDIE BLOGS

Our mission is to empower women of color affected by breast cancer to make the rest of their lives the best of their lives through education, advocacy and community.

The Invisible Ouch! Explaining Your Cancer Diagnosis To Children

When you receive a cancer diagnosis it is one of the hardest days of your life, well at least I can say it was for me. When the doctor said the words “You have breast cancer” I froze for a moment. So many thoughts crossed my mind and one of the most important ones was “how do I explain my diagnosis to my child”. Adult family members and friends are able to process scientific words, but children are a different challenge.

As a parent, I did not want to burden my child with the news of my cancer diagnosis.

She was 5 years old and only in kindergarten. I felt she should focus on school and being the best gymnast ever! As time passed and chemo started, I was no longer able to hide my diagnosis. When my hair fell out, the worry and questions began. Still trying to shield her, I explained that mommy has an invisible pain that is inside my body and I would have chemotherapy to get better but, it would make me lose my hair and make me tired some days, to say the least.

Explaining a cancer diagnosis to children is never easy but it is necessary to help them cope with the current and future changes ahead. Speak with a physician to help you find the words if needed.

Here are some tips to help you have that difficult conversation:

Make a plan. Prepare what you plan to say. Practice alone or with a friend.
Consider the age. It is important to use vocabulary that is understood by the child. You would not share the cancer diagnosis with a 5-year-old the same as you would a 14-year-old.
Calm Delivery. You set the tone. Children will react how you show them to; we understand that avoiding emotions can cause greater pain later. It is okay to feel sad or any emotion.
Take questions. As the child processes the information you have shared, allow time for questions. This will help them understand completely and they will be taken care of throughout this journey.

Sharing a cancer diagnosis with the children in your life can be a difficult task but, there are a number of books that can be used to help share the news. Each conversation will be tailored to the individual family but reading these books together, can help both the children and yourself.

Some books worth considering are:

Sometimes one of the most challenging things to do after receiving a breast cancer diagnosis is telling family members, especially children. No one prepares you for the hard conversations. These books and many more can be found wherever you purchase books- Bookshop.org, Amazon, or your local bookstore.

We hope that these titles help make your conversation go as smoothly as it possibly can considering the topic.

Baddie Ambassador, breast cancer, family, mental health, metastatic breast cancer, metavivor, motherhood, parenting, purpose, Sharon Kidd

Sharon Kidd

Queen. Mother. Metastatic Thriver. Diagnosis at 31 with TNBC Stage III in 2019 and Stage IV in 2020. Sharon is now living her blessed life as gracefully as possible; understanding that she can be grateful for life and mad at her circumstances simultaneously.

About Us

Your voice, your story, and your support can make a difference. Join For the Breast of Us in our mission to empower, support, and advocate for women of color across the globe. Together, we can create a future where every woman has the resources and support she needs to overcome breast cancer.