Topic: HELP! 10 year old with bc

Oh my heart hurts for you and your family.  Did they take all of  the lump out?  You probably need to get an oncologist to help you with the decisions that need to be made.  I have never heard of such a young girl getting breast cancer.  Ask for a copy of the pathology report so you can post the stage and type and do some research.  Peace to you, Tami 

I am so sorry, this must be incredibly hard for all of you.  I thought I was young to get breast cancer at 33 and my oncologist told me his youngest patient was 18.  So, I've heard of teens getting it, but not a pre-teen.  Your daughter will have more tests to determine whether the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes and once they have all the information, you will learn the "stage".  It is very overwhelming to receive this news and everything may seem like it's happening at a snail's pace, but once you get all the facts, you'll be more prepared to do whatever needs to be done to beat this disease.  My heart goes out to your family.

I am so..so sorry. I don't even know what else to say. I pray for your little girl. I have never heard of this. Being diagnosed at 30 was hard..I can't imagine 10. you are in my thoughts and prayers.

This may be a stupid question, but are the docs certain it's actually breast cancer?  In other words, do they know that it originated in the breast, or is it possible the primary location is somewhere else, and it traveled to the breast?  I ask b/c breast cancer is so heavily linked to estrogen production, and a child of 10 just isn't producing that much of it.  Even if she's begun menstruation, how much hormone production could she possibly have?

I'm so very, very sorry for this news.  I pray all your questions get answered and that your family sails through whatever faces you.

She has not started menstruating yet. When we spoke with the surgeon he stated he had never seen anything like this in his 37 years of practice. We obviously have not done any testing as we just found out yesterday but the surgeon used the words "breast cancer". He also stated that there are sometime tumors in the chest area that may be near the breast, but this is not the case. My wife and I have been told that there will be a lot of doctors involved in this as it is so uncommon.

We have not been seen by any other doctor besides the surgeon and pediatrician at this point. We were told that the tumor was tested by two different pathologists,both with the same outcome, that being breast cancer. I being her mother, not ever in a million years thinking that this would happen to my baby girl have never done research on breast cancer. I am only 29, and never had a scare myself. Right now we are going off of what we are being told by the surgeon.

He stated that she has endocarcenoma.

cjsocal, so very sorry this is happening to your family.  Surely the oncologist and dr. team will come up with a plan soon.  I have never heard of this in a child before either but I know she will be on our prayer list.  Please know that we are here and that we care and will help in anyway we can.  There are so many special kind women here for encouragement and prayer.  Please let us know how your sweet daughter does and what her treatment will be.  God bless you and your family. Sherry

Evidently it is rare but does happen.  See http://radiographics.rsnajnls.org/cgi/content/full/20/6/1613 and other sites on breast cancer in adolescents.

I am so sorry this is happening to your daughter.

Would a triple negative breast cancer be dependent on estrogen production?  I'm a triple neg and my bc was not related to estrogen as far as I know.  I take no post treatment drugs like Tamoxifen or any of the AI's.  So, it could be possible for a young girl who has not started her mensas to develop breast cancer.  As long as there is breast tissue, you can develop it.  Even in males, since we have seen an increase in male breast cancers as well.  Please feel free to correct me if this is not right.  I'm not 100% sure.

I am so sorry this is happening to your family. You are all in my prayers. Keep us posted.

gentle (((hugs))) 

I can't even imagine what you must be going through.

This just frustrates me even more knowing that children are getting BC.

My thoughts and prayers are with you

Bonnie

When I read this post I was floored.  My thoughts and prayers to your family for your daughter to have successful treatments and recovery.

cj, good morning,

I'm really sorry you've been handed this diagnosis to deal with, but looking forward with you to good results from treatment. Glad you found us and hope you'll come and post often -- we'd all feel privileged to offer you our support and love as you muddle through along with us.

As a mom of kids with serious and complicated medical problems, I wanted to make a couple of practical suggestions. First, go out today and buy a three-ring binder notebook and:

a set of dividers for it
a three-hole paper punch
some of those donut-shaped sticky things to reinforce the holes you punch
a couple of easy-grip pens or pencils
one of those clear plastic zippered pockets you can put in a three-ring binder

Designate one divider section for medical records and ask for copies of every single test (including bloodwork) and path report from here on out -- punch holes in them, reinforce the holes on the back of the paper, and stick them in that section.

One section will be for insurance. Keep all insurance correspondence in order in that section. Add a few sheets of lined paper to that section to, and every time you talk to your insurance people get the date, time, name and title of the person you talk to, and the "reference number" of your call, then write down everything YOU agreed to do and everything THEY agreed to do for future reference.

Another section is for information that you gather from your doctors or off the web, etc. Add some lined paper there as well and take notes at every doctor appointment.

Another section is for your daughter's health information to date: allergies, previous surgeries, immunizations, serious illnesses, etc. Also include a page of all the contact information you'll need in order to fill out doctor intake forms: insurance names and addresses, etc.

Another section is for the names, addresses and phone numbers of neighbors and friends and relatives who've offer to help. As time allows jot down what they've done, so later you can remember to thank them -- at some point you'll want to do that, but now is not the time to worry about it. They really do feel helpless so they'll welcome your being specific with them about what you need done, whether it's a meal, a trip to the store, or a load of laundry. 

In the clear plastic zippered pouch keep the pens or pencils and all those little business cards you'll be collecting from doctors, labs and such, so you have all that information handy when you need it.

Take this notebook with you to every appointment so it's all at your fingertips. At home, keep it near the phone so you can record the details of all conversations with insurance or doctors' offices.

My other suggestion is to contact your insurance company and request (or demand, as the case may be) a case manager for your daughter. That's a person who will act as your contact with the insurance company and help smooth the insurance issues that arise. All the companies have case managers, but they can be stingy with them -- they're for patients with complicated health issues. You definitely qualify, so don't let them tell you otherwise. 

Sorry to be so mundane when I'd really rather be right there giving you a big hug, but cyber-space is a real limitation that way! Hugs anyway, and prayers too,
Binney

oh wow....i'm so sorry to read this.  I'm in LA too and just finished chemo yesterday.  I'm being treated at UCLA where I have been so happy.

My breast surgeon is the Director of the Revlon Breast center and is world renowned.  I also have a young female oncologist in Santa Monica.  If you want 2nd/3rd/or even 4th opinions, I'm happy to help you with names, etc.

May I also suggest some cancer for kids books? to help your daughter understand?  I'm guessing she'll have chemo and the young kids books do explain that hair does grow back, that cancer is not contagious, etc.

My heart goes out to you!

hugs,

Lisa