Ten-Year-Old Bravely Battles Breast Cancer

(CBS)  Statistics say one-in-nine women will get breast cancer. A child getting breast cancer is almost unheard of.

But in La Mirada, Calif., a ten-year-old is fighting the disease.

Hannah Powell-Auslam looks like any other girl her age, reports Early Show national correspondent Hattie Kauffman.

But Hannah says when she learned her diagnosis, just last month, she wondered, " 'How could this happen? I'm ten.' I was really shocked."

After Hannah felt a lump, doctors did an ultra-sound and discovered a tumor spanning nearly two inches. She has secretory carcinoma, a slow-growing cancer.

"The mass consists of both the solid component and also the fluid component, (which) we call the cystic component," surgical oncologist Dr. Helena Chang explained.

Both Hannah and her mom, Carrie Auslam, were shocked.

"Ten-year-olds don't get breast cancer," Carrie remarked.

"I told my mom, 'I just want to be a normal kid, go back to school, play sports," ' Hannah says.

Hannah had a mastectomy. Now, her doctor says the cancer has spread to a lymph node, meaning more surgery or chemotherapy. But radiation is out.

"If you radiate the developing breast," Chang says, "it will never grow develop fully, because it becomes atrophic."

Hannah's family has launched a Website, OurLittleSweetPea.com

But Chang observes, "I don't think there's anything on this earth will beat this little girl down. She is just so upbeat. And 'I'll do it. I'll figure it out.' And never have a down moment."

Hannah is so upbeat, Kauffman notes, she says God chose her for this experience, because he knows she's strong.

"I'm going to set an example," Hannah vows. "If there's something wrong with your body, you tell your parents."

A sentiment echoed on The Early Show Tuesday by Carrie, who urged parents to talk to their kids.

"If your kids feel something that's unusual about their body," Carrie said, "they need to talk to you. Hannah knew about her lump, she didn't talk to me, knowing that it was just part of growing up. She didn't think it was a big deal. And she had that lump for several months before I found out about it. I found out about it by accident. And it became a huge problem. So, when kids find something that's wrong with their bodies, they need to talk to their parents."

CBS News medical correspondent Dr. Jennifer Ashton agreed, stressing that, "When girls are going through puberty and their bodies are changing, there are a lot of changes, physical, social and emotional. It can be an awkward time. Trust your instincts. We have to teach our daughters to trust their bodies, to not be afraid to bring something to their parents' attention, to their doctors' attention. And likewise, for the parent to say to the doctor, 'This is not right. Please investigate it.' The statistics are only there in medicine to guide us. There are always exceptions."

Carrie told co-anchor Harry Smith Hannah is "hanging in there. She's having a hard time right now. She's sick with the stomach flu. But, she's being tough. She's being tough for us. She's being tough for our family. She's what's keeping us strong at this point."

Carrie described learning of Hannah's illness as "heartbreaking. Hurtful. I feel like she's been robbed of her childhood. ... It's beyond shocking. You know. She's 10. She has breast cancer. It's unheard of."

[klobrien]

Way to keep that chin up, Hannah. I thought I was young when I was diagnosed with BC (37yrs). Almost two years later I have been through a lot... double mastectomy, chemo, menopause, and a wonderful reconstruction! I travelled to Toronto (I live in PEI Canada and we don't have a lot of experts here in reconstruction)and I am beyond pleased with the results!! It is amazing what modern medicine can do nowadays.

To be honest, praying has been hard for me these last couple of years. Rather I spend a lot of time researching health and wellness and how to prevent the cancer from coming back. I am basically on a 80% raw organic diet and only eat fish as a meat. I also take a lot of vitamins and supplements. I have read that infrared saunas are get to get out those cancer cells and so I am saving up...

Keep strong girl.

[jholliejones]

GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY YOUR IN MY PRAYERS YOUR A FIGHTER JUST TRUST IN THE LORD AND KEEP YOUR HEAD UP.

[legacyabq]

So many of kids today have cancer. and it is getting larger every day. I have Lymphoma, and I praise the LORD that I am still Alive. We need to keep their spirit up and keep Praying that they will find career. To many people to day have cancer. and it is going every day.
Posted by kdmontana at 7:28 AM

Actually, you will be relieved to know that you are mistaken: the number of kids with cancer is not getting "bigger every day". In fact, the cure rates for many cancers are at their highest rates in human history..

Where do you get your cynicism? cuz it isnt from the facts..

[legacyabq]

"Hannah is so upbeat, Kauffman notes, she says God chose her for this experience, because he knows she's strong."

?? Whats so upbeat about thinking an all-powerful spirit attacked you with cancer?? That sounds like anything but upbeat.

She would do better to be upbeat about the millions of hours of cancer research that has been done, which is likely to save her life, rather than "THANK" an evil, maleficient being for striking her down in order to "test her"

Where do people get these delusions? Parents I guess..
I hope this girl makes it OK, despite the evil-overlord-being that has apparently targeted her being against it

[khari01]

To Sirman and Jobatuity,

While we may or may not agree with Hannah's view on the fact that God has chosen her because she is strong, I don't think that now is the time to judge the religion and choices that Hannah and her family abide by. It is not for us to criticize each other on what we believe or not believe, that part is something that is between Hannah and her parents and is a way of life that they themselves have chosen.

We also all need to realize that Hannah, while she may be bright and believe herself strong-minded, she is still a young girl - 10 yrs old to be precise. I go back to when I was ten and I can guarantee you that I never really understood things like I do as an adult, nor did I say or act the way an adult would in similar circumstances. She is talking and seeing things just like any ten year old would. If Hannah, or any other person for that matter, was 20, she may - or may not - have a totally different viewpoint, different vocabulary and would also have the capability as an adult in fully understanding the entire scope of this horrible disease.

Assuming that Hannah's words have been quoted by the reporter verbatim, one can take away from this article that at this point in her life Hannah is a very confident individual and feels she is capable of handling every challenge that she faces. This may wane as she gets older; however, for now - more power to her!! And I say, "kudos to her family in instilling that in her!!"

Now is not the time for her - and us - to focus on her beliefs - now is the time to focus on a little girl who doesn't need this type of diagnosis so young, just like we wouldn't have appreciated a similar diagnosis. Hannah needs to be a child, have fun, be in wonderment of life and question and learn about the world around her. But the reality is life and she's been dealt a handful and does not need our criticism but needs empathy from all of us. Not only does this little girl have cancer, she may now also have to deal with the shrieks of laughter, butt of jokes and other nasty comments aimed at her from her peers. Girls especially can be so cruel and, believe me, it doesn't take long for kids, be it boys or girls, to figure out sometime isn't "perfect" about another child.

If what I've said has gone over like a lead balloon, please take this away with you: Hannah has one request - for us all to be vigilant about our bodies, no matter how young - and don't let your Dr say you're too young!!

[Jodyinlamirada]

I live in La Mirada where Hannah lives and know her and her family. She has brought our community together. She is a wonderful, happy girl that is an example to all of us. I would just like to say to melane12 your comments are right on. Hannah wanted to get her story out to help other children understand breast cancer and to teach us parents to teach our children to self exam and to communicate with each other. Mrcrosby11 you should be ashamed of yourself this child is trying to do teach us all with her life experience. Stay strong Hannah we love you.

[Slrman-21001573651763300012869]

"God chose her for this experience" Really? What a cruel, unfeeling god you must have. Or is this just another way of sublimating the fact that the universe is random and things just happen? Yes, blame it on god. Then you never have to take responsibility for anything, including your own stupidity.

[avigil2]

This is a horrible story for this innocent 10 year old to have breast cancer. This certainly cannot be in God's plan. Human life can be just cruel.

[edward1975-2009]

Cancer is always tragic and even more so when it occurs in a child. Thoughts and prayers for this little angel, may you get well and live long. It would be wonderful to hear of a follow-up story thirty years from now.

[kdmontana]

I think this child at 10 years of age as very up bet spirit about her self. So many of kids today have cancer. and it is getting larger every day. I have Lymphoma, and I praise the LORD that I am still Alive. We need to keep their spirit up and keep Praying that they will find career. To many people to day have cancer. and it is going every day.