10-year-old coping with rare breast cancer

[NYadgal]

Posted: 6/3/09 at 1:28pm

Ten-year-old Hannah Powell-Auslam said she's trying to remain brave as she battles an extremely rare, adult form of breast cancer that led to a mastectomy.

"I feel like a kid inside but sometimes I feel like an adult, when I'm always at the hospital," Hannah told ABC's "Good Morning America" in an interview that aired Wednesday. "I'm a kid fighting an adult disease."

The fifth-grader at Escalona Elementary School in this Los Angeles bedroom community complained of itching in her side in April. Her mother discovered a lump, and that led to a diagnosis of breast cancer - an extremely rare adult form.

Hannah had a mastectomy May 7 and has begun several rounds of chemotherapy.

"You feel like you're sick all the time. You just want to go lay in bed," she said.

The show filmed Hannah at home getting her head shaved rather than waiting for chemotherapy to take its toll. Other family members got buzz cuts, too, in solidarity.

"I might be just a little bit afraid. I love my hair. I worked so hard to grow it," Hannah said before the event.

Asked if she felt brave, Hannah nodded firmly.

"Feel brave all the time," she said.

After her haircut, the event became a giggly party as Hannah tried on new hats.



Bless this child, and give her courage!
I saw the segment on GMA this morning, and was stunned into silence. A 10 year old!

A reminder that every man, woman and child who has breast tissue is at risk. The risk may be low - but it's still there!

(Video in link)

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Updated On: 6/3/09 at 01:28 PM

[blondebaby589]

Posted: 6/3/09 at 1:34pm

What a truly remarkable little girl. This brought a tear to my eye.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 6/3/09 at 1:38pm

Man, how awful. She's incredibly brave and has such an good attitude. And a charming smile.

[tazber]

Posted: 6/3/09 at 1:44pm

"I might be just a little bit afraid. I love my hair. I worked so hard to grow it," Hannah said before the event.

wow. Bless her heart.

[NYadgal]

Posted: 6/3/09 at 1:47pm

You could see the tears welling in her eyes during the GMA segment. Trying so hard to be brave.

I just wanted to say to her it was ok to cry... it's really ok to cry!

[PalJoey]

Posted: 6/3/09 at 2:12pm

Feel brave all the time

My new mantra.

[StockardFan]

Posted: 6/3/09 at 2:37pm

That is so terrible! But she does sound like a wonderful child with a great attitude. She's in my thoughts and prayers.

[EVIE]

Posted: 6/4/09 at 2:00pm

"I might be just a little bit afraid. I love my hair. I worked so hard to grow it," Hannah said before the event."

Blessings to her and her family, wow in deed, this made me cry.