8-Year-Old With Breast Cancer Undergoes Mastectomy

Chrissy Turner recently underwent mastectomy, a surgical process that is used in taking or wiping out cancer from a human body. Although breast cancer may be common, her case is not.

ABC News reported that Chrissy is only eight when she was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called secretory breast carcinoma last month.

Breast Cancer is known to be one of the leading causes of death in women. According to Kids Health, it usually affects women and some men, but it does not affect kids. It has, however, affected the young eight-year-old girl.

CNN reported last month that the child's mom, Annette Turner, was surprised to find a lump in her daughter's right breast. Chrissy, who loves to play with legos and dragons, asked her mom about it.

The morning following the discovery, Annette called the doctor. Chrissy was then diagnosed with the rare disease.

According to the medical journal Pediatric Surgery International, this type of cancer is extremely rare and only accounts for less than 1 percent of all breast cancers and even lesser than 0.1 percent of all tumors reported in children.

All who are diagnosed with the condition are required to have mastectomy as a procedure against it. Multiple PET scans are also needed yearly for the next five years.

Chrissy underwent recent mastectomy and had her lymph nodes removed to treat the carcinoma.

"She’s doing pretty good, pain managing right now. She has a little bit more pain than yesterday," her mom Annette told ABC News.

Prior to the recent mastectomy, Chrissy underwent surgery at Primary Children's Hospital in Riverton, Utah.

Chrissy's family is hopeful that she won't have to endure other grueling treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation. When she reaches puberty, she will have the option to undergo breast reconstruction.

"She’s been really brave and this is a big person’s surgery for such a little girl," said Annette. "She’s been through a lot."

Kids Health stated that any woman can have breast cancer but, according to doctors, some factors make other women more likely to have it.

• Family History

A woman who has a close relative (mother, sister, aunt or even daughter) is more likely to get it.

• Age

The older a woman gets, the higher the risks for developing cancer.

• Lifestyle Choices

Smoking, eating foods that are high in fat and alcohol intake will up the chances of getting breast cancer. A lack of exercise will, too.

Kids Health suggested taking care of health, and checking for lumps and changes in the breasts. Should there be any, contacting the doctor will be of great help.