Newly diagnosed Mum with kids.

Hi Shimmer78 I was diagnosed on July 11 with a stage 1 grade 3 cancer (two lumps in breast). I had a lumpectomy on August 1 with a sentinel node removal too. On Monday I will be having my second round of chemo. I have a seven-year-old son (he was 6 when I was diagnosed but had his birthday the Friday before my first chemo treatment). I told him the day I got positive proof I had breast cancer (when the core biopsy results came back). Unfortunately he is very aware of what breast cancer is as we've had someone in my family fighting it since 2013 when he was just three (first my mum for the second time - 16 years after the first bout then my younger sister in August 2015 and now me). We've always been open and honest with him about it and he's helped us with many cancer fundraisers we've attended and been involved with. It certainly made it easier when I had to tell him my news as he quickly understood exactly what I was telling him. He was extremely upset and wanted to know who would be his mummy if I was gone and who would look after him if both Daddy and I were gone, all hard things to hear and discuss but he was OK after we talked it through. I know he's been worried at times and a little angry but with the love and support of my family and friends he seems to be coping OK especially today when I've had my head shaved because my hair has been falling out in clumps the last two days from the chemo. I would have found it very difficult to hide things from him as he's a very switched on little boy and would have realised I was hiding something from him. Am happy to chat further if you want to. Good luck with everything!

Hi Shimmer78 my 8yr old is ADHD so i didnt explain to him.but where my 10yr old is pretty switched on i did explain in more detail to him separately. 
I only had 1 night in hospital buggar i want to stay longer have a hoilday lol.
No seriously i couldnt wait to get home im healing pretty well .but i did get fluid built up where my lump was so they had to drain that out yesterday .

Hi @Barney74 . My 8 year old is quite a sensitive boy so want to tell him enough so he doesn't worry. He is also pretty switched on to and a good reader :/  Did you tell your boys separately or at the same time but explain more to the older one later? How long did you stay in hospital? Hope all is healing well xx

Thanks @nonkyboy . I have got the comics and a few of the other leaflets from cancer council...which seem awesome. Just still a little aprehensive about how much to tell them. My Breast care nurse and GP both have said I will have Chemo (because of my age) and previous history with melanoma so I guess i just want to prepare them enough so they don't come to there own conclusions about what might happen. 

Hi Shimmer78 i have 2 boys 10 and 8 i explained the whole thing to my 10yr old but my 8 yr old as he doesnt understand i just told him mummy has sure boobie.
I had same as you .surgery all done .
All the the best xx 

Hi @Shimmer78 my children have grown up but I am raising three of my grandkids aged 1,2 and 3. I just had surgery this Wednesday( same surgery as you) and am still in hospital but I was diagnosed in June. I haven't told the baby anything obviously as he is too little but the 2 and 3yo have been told that Grandma has a sore boogie that the Dr is cutting to make better. I haven't gone any further at this stage but when I get to the next stage of treatment I will give them a very simple explanation so they will understand hopefully why I can't play all the games etc all the time with them. Yours are a little older but I think honesty and keeping it simple is the way to go with kids. Have you got the books on breast cancer and treatments etc yet from BCNA? As well as those you can get magazines that explain things in comic book style to children. It's a good read and may appeal yo your 8yo. Take care xx Lesley