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Child embarrassed, guilty and scared?

Page last modified on: August 15, 2008
Question from momOfOne: I get embarrassed when my friends see my mom. She looks sick, is always on the couch, and is bald, and now I feel guilty because she could die and I cry.
Answers —Joan Hermann, L.S.W.: I think that it's a natural feeling that a child would have, to be embarrassed. It would be good if you were able to tell your mom how it makes you feel. You can say to her, "I feel so bad that you're so sick. When I see how sick you are, it makes me worry that things are not going to go well." So, I think the most help is if the child is able to say to their mom, "I get really scared when I see how you look." It would be good if you could find out from your mom why she looks the way she does.
Marisa Weiss, M.D., president and founder: It's very true, kids don't know how to differentiate between when you look washed–out because of treatment side effects, or if you look bad because the cancer has grown.

On Wednesday, July 19, 2000, our Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called Food for Cancer Recovery. Ronda Gates, M.S., R.Ph. and moderator Marisa Weiss, M.D. answered your questions about nutrition and how it relates to cancer recovery.

The materials presented in these conferences do not necessarily reflect the views of breastcancer.org. A qualified healthcare professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product or regimen discussed. All readers should verify all information and data before employing any therapies described here.

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Meet the Experts

Joan Hermann, L.S.W. is the director of social work services at the renowned Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia.

Marisa Weiss, M.D. is a radiation oncologist specializing in breast cancer and the founder, president, and guiding force behind Breastcancer.org.

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