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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 155
BellaOnline Editor Jellyfish
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BellaOnline Editor Jellyfish
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 155 |
How do you tell your kids if you've been diagnosed with cancer? Should you tell the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? Or is it better to share information on a need-to-know basis? This week's article How Do I Tell My Kids I Have Breast Cancer? offers some ideas. If you've been down this path, how did you handle it? What specific things did you find most helpful?
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 6,412
Tiger
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Tiger
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 6,412 |
Hey Gail, there is really no right way to do this. My heart goes out to anyone that has to do this!
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Joined: Apr 2009
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Koala
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Koala
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,358 |
I had to tell my children I had breast cancer, I remember it being a rather natural conversation. They didn't freak out. I was always close to them. Considering I found out via phone conversation the night before I went into the hospital for a double radical there wasn't much time to do any child psychology research.
The worst thing I had to tell one of my children is that the other one had died. That was the second worst moment of my life. The first being my son's death earlier in the day. I was lucky because my daughter had spent the night with a close friend. She babysat her son. My friend was a nurse working the night shift. I had time to deal. I didn't have time to deal with the breast cancer at all. In fact, I was told it was pretty remote that it was cancer. I didn't know until the surgeon called that night.
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 6,412
Tiger
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Tiger
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 6,412 |
Hats off to you Diane - you are one STRONG lady. I have not had breast cancer or lost a child (have one), but could imagine how I would feel. Thanks for sharing with us.
I had to tell my children I had breast cancer, I remember it being a rather natural conversation. They didn't freak out. I was always close to them. Considering I found out via phone conversation the night before I went into the hospital for a double radical there wasn't much time to do any child psychology research.
The worst thing I had to tell one of my children is that the other one had died. That was the second worst moment of my life. The first being my son's death earlier in the day. I was lucky because my daughter had spent the night with a close friend. She babysat her son. My friend was a nurse working the night shift. I had time to deal. I didn't have time to deal with the breast cancer at all. In fact, I was told it was pretty remote that it was cancer. I didn't know until the surgeon called that night.
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 155
BellaOnline Editor Jellyfish
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BellaOnline Editor Jellyfish
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 155 |
Diana,
I'm so sorry for your devastating loss, and am awed by your courage. Thank you so much for sharing your story with us. It's so important for others to know they are not alone, no matter how lonely they might feel.
Gail
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Joined: Feb 2010
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BellaOnline Editor Parakeet
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BellaOnline Editor Parakeet
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,174 |
How do you tell your kids if you've been diagnosed with cancer? Should you tell the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? Or is it better to share information on a need-to-know basis? This week's article How Do I Tell My Kids I Have Breast Cancer? offers some ideas... Hi Gail, lovely article! I particularly liked the section 'Age Appropriate Discussions' and how you divided that into what and how you would tell different age-groups. (JOY)
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 155
BellaOnline Editor Jellyfish
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BellaOnline Editor Jellyfish
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 155 |
Thank you Joy  . Learning you have breast cancer and having to tell your family is hard enough. When you are still raising your children and have to tell them, it's heartbreaking.
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Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 11,813
BellaOnline Editor Renaissance Human
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BellaOnline Editor Renaissance Human
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 11,813 |
Thank you for writing a great guide on how to tell kids that you have breast cancer. My mom had older kids, 30s, 40s, and 60s when she had to tell us. It had been one of her lifelong fears.
We tried to offer the support that she needed.
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 155
BellaOnline Editor Jellyfish
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BellaOnline Editor Jellyfish
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 155 |
It's so good you could be there for your mom ...
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