Breast Cancer Awareness for Kids

Breast Cancer Awareness for Kids is an important thing to consider for your child so that they should not prone to breast cancer in the future. As frightening as it is to the woman who is diagnosed with breast cancer, imagine the trauma it can be for your kids. They will notice any tension and stress caused by the disease and that may translate into “acting out” or other signs your child is scared or unhappy. They are going to have questions that will need thoughtful answers. You must address their concerns so they will feel comfortable with you during your disease.

Teaching Kids about Breast Cancer

They will probably ask what breast cancer is, for this teaching kids about breast cancer is important. You can explain that to them in language they are capable of understanding. You should make it simple to understand but don’t talk “down” to your older children. A simple explanation of how your body rebuilds itself with cells that divide and makes copies is usually a good start. Tell them if the body starts making too many cells, this will sometimes cause a tumor that feels like a lump on the outside the body.

Explain to them that a tumor will sometimes be found in the person’s breast and you should also let them know that breast cancer in men is also possible. A lump can sometimes be letting the person know there is something the doctor should look at. The doctor may find that they formed a group of cells, but there isn’t any cancer in them. To keep the cancer from spreading to other areas of the body they also might decide the lump is cancer and want to remove it. The child should know that sometimes the cancer is only in one breast, but sometimes it can spread to the other breast or other parts of the body.

How a person gets breast cancer? They should be told about this. It can be a simple matter to explain the family history, age, and ways that a person lives their lives can decide if a person will get breast cancer.

Lumpectomy or Mastectomy

In order to help understand what will be happening to you to them, simple discussion on the lumpectomy or mastectomy can be helpful. Have the child say the words after you; this should minimize some of the fear of what those big words mean. For example, a lumpectomy removes a tumor or mass of cells from the breast when the cancer is found early and is only in one small part of the breast. If there is a chance the cancer has spread outside the breasts to the lymph nodes or other parts of the body, a mastectomy removes the entire breast.

Explaining radiation and chemotherapy will help your child know what is happening if your hair begins to fall out, or you are starting to vomit. Allow the child to say the words and allow them to feel any emotions they might be feeling during this stressful time. Encourage them to talk to you and ask any questions they may have. Your child may not be able to realize if you are depressed, losing your hair, or getting sick. For a moment, they should know that you would not feel well. If they are prepared for this, it will help their understanding when that time comes.