At just eight years old, Chrissy Turner should be spending her days playing with Lego sets, imagining adventures with dragons, and enjoying childhood without worry. Instead, this young girl from Centerville, Utah, is bravely facing a diagnosis that is almost unheard of in children: breast cancer.
A few weeks ago, Chrissy approached her mother, Annette, with a simple but alarming question: “Mom, what is this?” Annette soon realized that her daughter had a small lump in her right breast. Trusting her instincts, she contacted a doctor the very next morning. The family later shared their experience on a Facebook page created to update friends and the local community.
After medical examinations, Chrissy was diagnosed with secretory breast carcinoma, an extremely rare form of breast cancer. According to reports published in the medical journal Pediatric Surgery International, this type of cancer accounts for less than one percent of all breast cancer cases and fewer than 0.1 percent of all tumors found in children. Medical literature has documented only 34 known cases worldwide, highlighting just how unusual Chrissy’s condition is.
Despite the shock of the diagnosis, doctors say the overall prognosis is generally favorable. The recommended course of treatment is surgical removal of the tumor, and in some cases, a mastectomy is considered the most effective option. Chrissy will also need to undergo multiple PET scans each year for the next five years so doctors can closely monitor her recovery and ensure the cancer does not return.
Chrissy is currently receiving care at Primary Children’s Hospital in Riverton, Utah, where she has already undergone surgery to remove the tumor. Additional surgery is expected in December. Friends of the family have set up a GoFundMe page to help cover the growing medical expenses and to ease the financial burden during this challenging time.
Through it all, Chrissy remains a bright and hopeful child. She dreams of getting back to school, playing freely with her toys, and one day growing up to help others the way doctors and nurses are helping her now. Her family says she looks forward to simple joys—building Lego castles, drawing dragons, and spending time with her loved ones—small but powerful reminders of the life she is determined to return to.
Chrissy’s story is one of courage, resilience, and hope, shining a light on a rare medical condition while reminding the world of the strength even the youngest patients can show in the face of extraordinary challenges.
