If you were recently diagnosed with breast cancer, telling your children is going to be hard, regardless of how old they are. Although there is no easy way to break this kind of news to someone, there are steps you can take to reassure them over the course of the conversation. Younger children will likely need comfort, love, and compassion, while older kids may want to know more about the logistics of treating the condition. Either way, the following tips should be able to help with the dialogue. 

3 Tips for Telling Your Children You Have Breast Cancer

1. Be Honest

Children are incredibly intuitive and can usually tell when something is wrong. Until someone tells them exactly what’s going on, though, they tend to imagine the worst. As a result, it’s usually beneficial to answer your children’s questions in an honest but age-appropriate way. For example, if you were diagnosed with breast cancer in its earliest stages, that is worth mentioning. If you must undergo relatively aggressive treatment, on the other hand, it’s still important to discuss openly and honestly because the kids should have an opportunity to process it before they witness it. 

2. Ask for Their Support

Children want to feel needed, and they thrive when their parents rely on them to complete simple tasks. Offer support and encouragement during the conversation, but let your kids know you will need their support along the way, too. Chances are they will want to do everything possible to make you feel better, but they may not know how to do so without guidance. 

3. Address Their Health Concerns 

If you have daughters, they may wonder whether they will be more likely to get breast cancer upon hearing the news; however, they may not want to ask during the conversation since it should be about you. Give your children the opportunity to address any health concerns by asking them outright how the news makes them feel and offering to answer any questions they may have. 

If you’re due for a mammogram, turn to Main Street Radiology. A certified Breast Imaging Center of Excellence from the American College of Radiology, this clinic has four convenient locations and serves patients throughout Queens, NY. The 32 radiologists on their team use state-of-the-art equipment to help physicians diagnose everything from breast cancer to pulmonary nodules with confidence. Visit their website to find the office nearest you, or call (718) 428-1500 to request a cancer screening in Bayside.