Telling your children about testing for cancer

Lori Getz, MA, shares advice for parents on how to best explain to your young children that one of their parents is being tested for cancer
How To Tell Your Kids About Testing For Cancer - KidsInTheHouse.com
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Telling your children about testing for cancer

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I have a 7-year-old and I have a 2-year-old, and when all of this first started, my oldest was 5 and my youngest was 6 months. There was no way to really explain all of this to them in a way that they would truly understand all of the implications. My 5-year-old knew that her grandma was sick and that mommy had to have surgery, it wasn't until the day that she said, "Well, if Nana has bad tissue, and she had to have surgery, and you have bad tissue, and you have to have surgery, does that mean I will have to have it too one day?" Obviously, I don't know the answer to this right now. She's too young; I won't test my children right now because I want them to be able to decide, as they get older, whether or not they even want to be tested for this gene mutation. So when she asked me that question, I didn't give her the truth. I let her know that this was something we were born with, and that when she was born, we knew she didn't have it. That way, as she gets older--maybe it was right, maybe it was wrong; I don't know--but it wasn't something I wanted her to worry about until it was time for her to really understand and be able to make the decision about what she wants to do.

Lori Getz, MA, shares advice for parents on how to best explain to your young children that one of their parents is being tested for cancer

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Expert Bio

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Lori Getz, M.A.

Technology Expert

Since 2004 Lori has worked as an Instructional Technologist in Los Angeles, CA. She has a Master of Arts in Educational Technology from San Diego State University and is certified by isafe.org as an Internet Safety Specialist. In September 2008 Lori founded Cyber Education Consultants and began speaking to students, parents, and educators about Internet safety, security and ethics.  Since that time Lori has reached out to Internet users across the world!  Her mission is simple- to help bridge the gap between a young generation of digital natives and their parents and teachers. 

Today, Cyber Education Consultants provides workshops, professional development and consulting services to more than 100 schools across the country.

Lori is an educator, mother, and Internet safety expert.  She has appeared on the "Dr. Phil Show," "Today," "HLN," “Dr. Drew” and several other local news and radio programs (including the Ryan Seacrest show on KIIS FM).  She often lectures live, speaking to parents, teachers and students. Lori has been published in several areas including as an online expert for momlogic.com and kidsinthehouse.org.  Most recently was featured in Rachel Simmons’ new edition of “Odd Girl Out” and Lucie Hemmen’s, Ph.D “Parenting a Teen Girl.” She is currently working with the “I Have a Plan” series to develop a children’s book on online safety.  Her insight comes from both her professional and personal life working with children, tweens and teens.  

 

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