Hannah Powell-Auslam says she just wants to be a ‘normal kid’ going to school, enjoying sports, and hanging out with her friends.  Unfortunately, Hannah is so unique her doctors say she’s even more rare than one in a million.

Hannah has breast cancer even though she’s only ten years old.  On May 7, the Fullerton, California, child had a mastectomy and will probably need chemotherapy to stop the spread or minimize the risk of recurrence of the cancer.

Hannah’s parents have launched a family blog to document her highly unusual ordeal.  In it, they describe her remarkable strength in facing an issue that causes many adults to crumble.

Dr. Len Lichtenfeld says the type of cancer Hannah has is so rare, even among adults, that information on it is scarce.  The good news, according to Lichtenfeld, deputy chief medical officer for the American Cancer Society, is Hannah’s form of cancer, said to be invasive secretory carcinoma, usually grows slowly and comes with an ‘excellent prognosis.’

Because Hannah’s battle with breast cancer is so rare, medical experts are divided over how the public should evaluate her situation.  Some experts say the news of Hannah’s case provides an excellent opportunity to educate girls on breast development, including what is normal and what is not, and to reinforce the significance of a healthy lifestyle, even for kids, that includes a nutritious diet and adequate physical activity.  These experts also consider Hannah’s case an opportunity to remind doctors that breast cancer in girls as young as Hannah is possible, although extremely rare, and to take all symptoms seriously, including lumps in the breast area.  Other experts fear the news of her case will cause unnecessary panic among young girls and their parents which might lead to unnecessary mammography and biopsies.

Now back at home after surgery, Hannah says she wants her medical diagnosis to become ‘an example for all the kids in the world, that if there’s something wrong with your body, you tell your parents.”