As this month of Breast Cancer Awareness comes to an end, we need to address a very difficult issue – the need to fully prepare the next generation to help them manage their risk, especially if there is a family history of breast cancer. According to BreastCancer.org https://bit.ly/1FNOigH, a woman’s risk for breast cancer nearly doubles if she has a mother, sister or daughter who has been diagnosed with the disease. Now you cannot terrify a four-year-old with the details, but you can teach her how to eat better and exercise regularly in the form of active play. You can teach your teenage daughter how to do a proper breast exam once she starts menstruating. And you can answer questions like ‘Mommy, why don’t you have breasts?’ in an age appropriate way as your girls grow. It’s hard, but it would be so much harder to leave your precious little ones to face a future that holds genuine risk for them without preparing them and giving them the know-how to minimise their risk. If you’ve had breast cancer, how did you tell your daughters – and sons – about the disease?
