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Jamie's Blog

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Is it too soon to have my daughter checked? She is almost 12.

This question came to me from a new friend I recently met on Twitter whose young sister is battling breast cancer. This is what she writes in her profile:


My sister has Stage 3 Breast Cancer. Today all of her hair came off. So depressing. She has NO Insurance.


Considering that just last year there was a major news story about a 10 year old girl with breast cancer, my friend's question is not far-fetched. Although her daughter's risk of having breast cancer at 11 is almost nil, her worry is understandable.


Most of us react with a mixture of sympathy and horror, reassuring ourselves that such a thing could never happen to our daughter. And statistically the vast majority of us would be correct. We can shake our heads and sigh, “Those poor people". . . key word "those".


But when your sister loses not just her hair but her baby because of breast cancer, you start to look at your 11 year old baby girl with new worry.


For all I have gained because of breast cancer I have truly embraced it as a gift. Honest.
But I would never wish it on my worst enemy, and certainly not on this dear sister.

PS, yes 12 is too young to start checking.
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10 comments:

  1. What an emotional, honest entry. It's for all these women that we hold events like Yoga Unites for Living Beyond Breast Cancer. 200,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year and the world needs to know. Thank you for sharing.

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  2. It is not too soon to teach her awareness and how to do the self check which should become a life long habit. A little young for anything too extensive.

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  3. You make a good point, and given the circumstances, that her aunt is fighting breast cancer, she is probably very aware of the disease.
    Thanks for your comment!

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  4. i found my tumor through a BSE. i was "too young" for mammograms. i think it is imperative that women know their breasts -- how they look, how they feel -- and examine them at the same time every month to help control for the inevitable variations that come with a menstrual cycle. i know that this is not the conventional wisdom, but i also know that i would be dead without it.

    my daughters will be taught to look at and feel their breasts as soon as they start their periods.

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    1. Lani, I can't believe I never replied to your comment. How rude! And I don't disagree with you, either. There is a delicate balance between hyper-vigilance from fear, and confident familiarity with our breasts as with our faces. We always notice a new bump or chin hair on our faces because we touch them constantly: we know them "like the back of our hands," and so it should be with our breasts.

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  5. I know how you feel, I have a tween too. I find that it makes me feel better to do all the things I CAN do to prevent BC. We do know through scientific studies that diet is a big part of it, as well as avoiding chemicals in beauty products, deodorant, etc. You may want to consider starting her out chemical-free now - while she's young; that way she won't have bad habits to break later.

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    1. You are a very wise mother to give your daughter every advantage.
      (Sorry it took me so long to reply)

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  6. No test I had was more important than the one that told me that my breast cancer was an anomaly and could not be transferred to my children. A breast specialist can order that test and help you. Insured or not find a program in your area that will help.

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    1. I understand your feeling, which is how I felt when I learned I am negative for the BRCA genes.

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  7. I have to agree with Chemo Babe. Checking one's breast should just be common practice once puberty kicks in. The emphasis could be placed more on good habits rather than fear of cancer. Personally, I found my lump through self-checking; I was way too young for a routine mammogram. And thank goodness I had had the habit instilled in me.

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