Breast and Oncoplastic Surgeon
Pink Hibiscus Breast Centre
In our last article, we focused on breast awareness for our teenagers. In this article, we give attention to the children of our breast cancer survivors. This no doubt is not a common area of discussion, though it is important. Of note, many of our young boys and girls have many concerns and often live in households that are afflicted by this dreaded disease.
Whether they have benign conditions, worry about developing breast cancer themselves, or are simply living through the ordeal of seeing a parent tested and treated for the disease, the experience can be a heavy burden. An often under-appreciated concern is how deeply young people are affected when a parent—particularly a mother—is diagnosed and undergoing treatment. The process can be especially traumatic as they witness her diagnosis, surgery, and recovery.
Seeing their mother undergo surgery and recovery, or witnessing the physical changes brought on by chemotherapy, can place a heavy psychological burden on these children, often causing anxiety and even depression. Many may not realise they have a safe space to express their fears and concerns, as they may hesitate, not wanting to add to their parent’s suffering.
Modern times allow teenagers to get easy access to information on breast cancer via the Internet and social media. This can be useful, but it can also be harmful and misleading.
In my practice, I encourage patients to involve their children at the appropriate time, introducing them to aspects of the care their mother will undergo and creating a space where they feel comfortable asking questions—both to me and to their mother. This open and honest communication helps children manage their anxieties in a supportive, therapeutic way while also fostering a lasting bond of trust. Of course, information shared should be relevant and age-specific.
Quite frankly, what we never want is for them to lose hope. We want them to know that their mother is going to be cured and whole again, and that requires encouraging them to be part of the care pathway.
Teenagers can be a phenomenal source of support for a woman diagnosed with breast cancer, both during her diagnosis and throughout treatment. At home, after surgery, they can help in many practical ways—preparing meals, assisting with bathing, reaching items from high shelves, or even helping her get dressed.
These seemingly small acts can make any child feel immensely helpful to a parent undergoing cancer treatment.
Understanding what chemotherapy is and its side effects, especially what they would see at home, will help teenagers to feel that they are very much contributors to the recuperation process.
It’s equally important to prepare children for the physical changes they may witness. This awareness often prompts teenagers to ask questions and reflect on their own health, including whether they might be at risk for breast cancer.
When they return to school and discuss these concerns with friends, many turn to the internet and social media for answers—sometimes encountering helpful information, but other times facing misinformation.
Therefore, schools and community groups that provide educational support for children, ie, teenagers, should be aware of this and be able to have an open forum to access good, honest, and reliable information on how to cope with a relative with breast cancer.
It is also important to provide information on understanding their individual risks of developing breast cancer and to dispel fears in these young children and young adults.
A diagnosis of breast cancer is a life-changing event for a woman and, by extension, her loved ones. As such, most importantly, we want all members of the family to be informed and appropriately supported.
