Expert: Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D. - 12/29/2009

Question
QUESTION: Dear reader, I'm 13 and I'm wondering if my mum may be I'll in anyway. You see a few months back I was I'll so I had to go to the doctors. After he had finished with me my mum said ''ohh could I talk to you about you know what'' and he said ''yeah sure''. I wasn't really listening much but I heard him say about a lump in her chest and that and then he said to me that it was best if I went out. Then erlier today we were watching a program and it had a woman with brest cancer in. At the end it said if you are effcted by any of this call ect, my mum was just starring at the tv and didn't move at all. Then I tryed to ask her something but she didn't move so I asked again and she said ''ohh yeah umm I have just got to do some cleaning''. Am I wrong to be worried? I don't want to ask her because there's not really much evidence of it. We've never been that close but I am abit scared that I going to lose her as she is one of the only people I have left in my life. Thank you for Reading

ANSWER: For being just 13 you seem to be quite observant! Yes it is possible that your mother may have breast cancer. But first of all it is not sure. A breast lump may be a cancer but it is not certain. It can be other things too that are not dangerous. Second, even if it is a cancer it may very well be cured. In fact most breast cancers - but not all - are cured at present. Though of course I can not promise anything! Please do keep me posted!


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---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for replying so quickly. And I'm now 14 as it's my birthday today :) I was wondering do you think if I maybe talked to someone about it it may help me? You see this year has been my hardest year yet as I lost my bestfriend of an asthma attack a month or so ago, my dad of a drug overdose, my uncle from a heartattack and so many more. You see the person who I call mum now is my adopted mum and my biological mum is an alcaholic and has mental health problems, so if my adoptive mum feel ill (as much as I have said before I hate her and wish she was dead) it would just be to much for me. I'm just scared of losing anyone else..I've never really tryed talking to someone about my problems..does it help?  

Answer
Congratulations! Well, yes it may. But your question is somewhat outside my area of expertise here. I'm not a psychiatrist or a psychologist. But talk to someone you have confidence in. Best of all talk to someone who is professional with regards to talking to people and dealing with problems. You may get help with that through your school or your church/synagogue or the social services. Good luck!