10 year old girl with breast cancer

 

Did you EVER think you would hear that a 10 year old girl has been diagnosed with breast cancer? I have personally met a girl diagnosed at 16 and another at 18 …but TEN?! If you caught the story on Good Morning America or some other media you’ll be familiar with the name Hannah Powell-Auslam. She’s from the U.S. and yes, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She’s had a mastectomy, has had her first chemotherapy and shaved her gorgeous long hair in front of a lot of people at a special party. Even though she is only ten years old, she is fighting like a WARRIOR!

I’m not a mother so I don’t know what kind of mind-set most 10 year old girls have, but I’m thinking that a lot of girls would be extremely scared and upset if this happened to them at the age of 10. It’s hard enough being diagnosed at an older age…but TEN?! This is not a hoax. It’s true. I wish it were only a hoax, but Hannah is real - and she is STRONG. She also has a positive attitude and that will take her a long way as she goes through this journey. Hannah’s family have started a blog and since this story hit the media they have been inundated as you can well imagine. I think the real courage in this story is that this little girl was open and willing to tell everyone that she has breast cancer at the age of ten. It’s a lot of pressure just to have cancer, but to tell the world and to do it when you’re only ten is incredible! Just by sharing her story, she is going to save so many women’s lives. Let’s face it people - if a ten year old girl can get breast cancer, YOU can get breast cancer. And if you’re a man don’t think you’re immune! You’ve got breasts too, and MEN DO GET BREAST CANCER. Breast cancer in men is very serious, so please guys take it seriously if you find a lump. This includes finding a lump in your armpit. Any lumps should be reported to your doctor (if you’re male or female…any age) and if your gut is telling you something isn’t right, then do not let the doctor’s ignore it! You won’t know for certain until you get a biopsy or have the lump removed & tested. Finding it early is the best way to fight it. Don’t bury your head in the sand and hope it will “go away”. This goes for abnormalities in ANY area of your body, no matter how embarrassing you think it is. You’ll be more embarrassed if you don’t mention it and find out after it’s too late that you could have saved your life if only you’d gone to the doctor sooner.

Back to Hannah! Sorry for my “preaching” This girl is truly phenomenal & I know that just by sharing her story, it’s going to make a big difference in the lives of so many. It will help parents to be able to talk to their children about breast cancer (and other cancers) and it will help children to know that cancer isn’t really that scary and that you CAN get through it. It will also help them be more aware of their body and what’s normal for them at an early age, which is extremely important.

Check out more of Hannah’s story here: http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/OnCallPlusBreastCancerNews/story?id=7739714&page=1 

Oh, and in case I DO have to tell you….PLEASE donate to breast cancer research. We’ve got to continue to find new treatments and ultimately a cure. If it takes this story of a ten year old to make you donate a few bucks - do it! And if you don’t know where or who to donate to, email me and ask. No matter where you are I can point you in the direction of a worthwhile organization that is doing breast cancer research. It could be that next dollar that finds a big break-through.

KICK CANCER’S BUTT HANNAH!!