From the Expert
It’s important to be honest with teens about a breast cancer diagnosis, so they know they can trust you. Explain that you’ve found good doctors and chosen a treatment plan that should help. Here are some tactics for talking with your teen:
Don’t burden your child with every detail—follow his or her lead and answer questions honestly.
Teens don’t always want to talk, so watch for other signs they may be upset, such as changes in sleep patterns or schoolwork.
Do everything you can to keep your teen’s life as normal as possible.
Seek help from extended family, friends and other parents. And value your teen for the help he or she willingly offers.
Consider therapy for your teen. Major cancer centers have support programs, and a teen might benefit from professional therapy as well.
Remember, it’s developmentally appropriate that teens worry most about themselves. That doesn’t mean they aren’t concerned about you.
Tamara Shulman, Ph.D., ABPP board certified in clinical psychology, 25 years in private practice and previously, Chief of Children's Services at the Elizabeth Medical Center in New Jersey. She currently serves on the Mental Health Advisory Board of St. Mary's Hospital in Passaic.
Amelia Rogers 10/10/07
We tend to think that teens are selfish beings and can’t see past their own petty concerns. But it’s more to the point that they are trying to make sense of feelings and situations they haven’t encountered before. I would be interested to see interviews with teens who are dealing with life-threatening conditions, too.
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