FIT FOR KIDS

Answer the Toughest Question of All:

Are you going to die?

This is, of course, the most dreaded question a parent faces, but again, trying to be honest with your child is the best approach.

Share with them that you are not dying, but are taking strong medicine and/or having surgery to get rid of the cancer. Reassure your children that specialized doctors are doing everything they can to help. Perhaps you can share positive information about new advances in treatment or a promising prognosis.

Reiterate the fact that although people do die from cancer, lots of people don’t. It might be good to talk about others you know who are cancer survivors—Your kids may not even know about it!

Even though their judgment isn’t always amazing, their healthcare is.

Healthcare as amazing as their potential

1600 7TH AVENUE SOUTH BIRMINGHAM, AL 35233 (205) 638-9100 ChildrensAL.org

The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute has an excellent outline of items to consider, including your initial conversation. Visit dana-farber.org.

Tell them mom (or dad) has a disease called cancer.

Explain cancer is a general name for many different diseases in which cells that are not normal divide more rapidly than usual. These abnormal, quickly growing cells often develop into a tumor. Cancer can also spread to other parts of the body, but it is not contagious: Your children cannot “catch” cancer from you.

Talk about the causes of cancer. Ask how they think cancer gets started. You might mention some of the known behaviors that seem to increase a person’s chances of getting cancer, such as smoking or spending lots of time in the sun. Mention that although all the causes of cancer aren’t known, experts are studying this question and coming up with more answers all the time.

Let your kids know where the cancer is in your body, along with how you will be treated. Tell them if you will be in the hospital or away from home for extended periods of time. It is important to discuss how treatment may affect you temporarily but is helping to make you better in the long run. That is often hard to understand.

Depending on their ages, you might also ask your children how they would like to respond when others ask them questions about your health. Who can they talk to and what all can they share? This discussion also gives you a chance to check on how much your sons and daughters understand about your illness as well as what issues you may need to clarify for them.

Explain to older kids and teens that your illness will probably affect the family’s daily routines and responsibilities, and you will keep them posted as these changes occur.

Source: http://www.dana-farber.org/Adult-Care/Treatment-and-Support/Patient-and-FamilySupport/Family-Connections/Talking-with-Kids-about-Cancer.aspx

DERMATOLOGY & LASER

Dr. Porcia Love | Amanda Brooke, CRNP | Ruchi Patel, PA-C Debbie Russell, Aesthetic Director

PROVIDING THE HIGHEST QUALITY CARE TO OUR PATIENTS IN A COMPASSIONATE AND PERSONALIZED MANNER.

BOTOX · CHEMICAL PEELS · FILLERS · MICRONEEDLING · SPIDER VEIN TREATMENTS · DYSPORT PRP · SILK PEELS · FACIAL REJUVENATION · LASER HAIR REMOVAL SKIN TIGHTENING · SKIN CARE PRODUCTS

To book a cosmetic appointment, email drussell@rrdermatologylaser.com.

O U T S I D E AL

Into the WILD D

Get Out There

Go out and enjoy some of the lands Forever Wild has protected. All of the recreational opportunities available are highlighted on its website,

alabamaforeverwild.com.

We all know that even a few moments spent outside can do so much to lift our spirits. Fresh air and Mother Nature’s scenic splendor can almost instantly elevate even the deepest “down in the dumps” mood. And there’s now evidence to support our personal observations on this point. Several recent scientific studies back them up, showing that exposure to nature can lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol as well as inflammatory cytokines, which are linked to heart disease, diabetes and other issues.

Being truly immersed in the untouched outdoors is the best way to capture its calming effects. From the glittering Gulf of Mexico to mountain peaks and everywhere in between, Alabama is blessed with an abundance of beautiful landscapes urging us outside. But to get out and enjoy wild places, there have to be some left.

While it may seem far-fetched to imagine all our fields and forests could one day be covered in concrete, with the current pace of population growth, development and urban sprawl, it’s not a completely impossible future outcome. That’s why initiatives like Alabama’s Forever Wild program are so vital and valuable to the overall health of our state and its residents.

BY JENNIFER STEWART KORNEGAY