After blood tests for what I thought was osteoporosis led to a diagnosis of myeloma a week ago today, I'm now feel like I'm almost watching my life from somebody else's perspective.

Since the diagnosis, I've had a bone marrow sample (no way did I think anything could be that painful! Lying on your side with two fractured vertebra is uncomfortable enough to start off with...), I had an ultrasound yesterday and still have lots of x-rays to come on Friday.

My follow up appointment to find out where things actually are is on 4th December, and originally my wife and I had resolved to not say anything to our two girls (aged 11 and 9) until after then.  However, things aren't turning out how we expected.  Although the girls accept that I'm having lots of tests because of my existing back problems, I think they have detected the changed atmosphere.

When a MacMillan advert came on the TV, my wife started crying and left the room.  Watching children in need on Friday wasn't exactly helpful either.

I know we need to tell them, and we want them to know before they find out something themselves or start to think up ideas of what might have changed themselves, but it's so hard - I think I know what to say, but their reaction scares me.  I've been just about holding things together so far (although I've had a few moments where I've just melted down), and seeing my wife so upset really hurt... I guess I'm just scared of hurting them too.

I'm going to get hold of the telling children MacMillan book, but I suppose the question I'm asking myself now is how long should we wait - I don't want them to find out something and then we jump in and tell them, and I guess there will never exactly be a perfect time to tell them.  How can there be a perfect time for something like that?

That's an incredibly tough question - and I have no answers. I think only you can know your children, how they'll react and when to tell them. Also of course what to tell them. Kids pick up on things so they'll know that SOMETHING is wrong but their little imaginations could be going overdrive so sooner or later you'll need to tell.

It also seems to me that nobody ever has tests expecting the outcome to be myeloma. They always suspect something else first and when all the easy answers are ruled out, myeloma is what's left. My other said watching my step-father's bone marrow sampling was absolutely awful - so I can't imagine how painful it must be to have that done to you.

My suggestion - and I'm the 'kid' who had to be told, even if I'm 47 rather than 7 - would be to tell them you're not well, avoid the exact term of multiple myeloma and be glad that they are hopefully too young to google the scary stuff. 

I also know what you mean about the cancer adverts. When I was first diagnosed - I had a relatively minor cancer - the last thing I wanted to see was all those adverts and every time the radio started talking about cancer statistics or anything to do with cancer, I had to turn it off. It seems you go from a life where cancer is not something you notice, to one where it's popping up all over the place. You'll start feeling you NEED to know just exactly which type of cancer dead celebrities had just to reassure yourself that it wasn't yours. (and of course most of the time the media don't know or don't tell)

Tough times ahead for you and your family but kids can be stronger then we expect. I'm sure the Mac book will be full of good advice and suggestions.

Hi MattA,

Just nipped over here when I saw your post. I am a mum and  have cancer and my mum also got cancer when I was a teenager just after my dad had died. So I kind of see it from both angles..  I knew something was wrong and we were told that she was just a bit unwell and in hospital to rest her back for a few days. I knew something wasn't right and then assumed the worse as I guessed she must be about to die if no one was saying anything. I was worried she was really ill and then I was reassured it was ok and then I found out it wasn't actually ok at all, I was so angry and felt I couldn't trust people to tell me the truth. My mum actually lived another 12 years after her diagnosis and I struggled for a long time to trust those around me and to believe when she said she was ok. All kinds of things went through my head wondering what the hushed voices were and conversations that stopped when I came in the room. I thought it was about me and I had done something wrong or something

So, please tell them. They know anyway, children and they are much more matter of fact about things than we are. I know you are scared of hurting them, but if you don't tell them, they will worry and often children think you are cross with them and they have done something wrong. So, please don't wait. Its good to wait enough to have some news to tell them but don't leave it too long or their imaginations will run riot. The booklet is great and phone the advice line too. Of course you need to do it in an age appropriate way, but tell them.

If you are matter of fact and positive and honest about things, they will be matter of fact and positive and honest too and a few tears are ok too.

I had to tell my son and yes, its really really hard but its better than not and he dealt with it so well and is really positive about the whole thing now. And we are giving them courage to deal with difficult things in the future.

I wish you all the best with your results and teling your children

Little My

I'd tell hem right away. I know Myeloma cannot be cured ,but it can be treated, and you can last a long time. Yes those lumber punches really hurt. I do not want anymore of them either.

Hallo Matt, so sorry you have myeloma, I do too. I think your children need to know - you are very unwell, have to attend hospital a lot so they can keep an eye on you, that you need them to help you sometimes when you feel not good. I think children only need to know more than this if they actually ask for more, their questions will come at their own pace. It is important to remember that research on myeloma is good and you will hopefully benefit from this. Children may worry more if they think their parents are upset and separating! They need to feel involved and helpful to both of you. I wish you lots of good things. X

Hello Matt, how can you stop your young family feeling pain and anguish , how can you keep them from hurting, when ever they learn of your illness and how ever they learn about it, you need to be in control and ready for all the questions that will follow. Just like the doctors do to us Matt ,perhaps just drip feed a little at a time. We cannot take it all in and I am sure they need not at this time. Wishing you the strength you need at this time. With respect Paul

Hi matt, My partner had bowel cancer and now has just finished chemo. At the time we were told of his diagnosis, we also thought he had lung mets as they picked up lung nodules on the ct scan. My kids are 14 and 10 but were both 1 year younger at the time. I wasnt sure what to do, but in the end spoke to them both separately. I was completely honest with my daughter, who was 13 then and told he he had cancer. I tried to protect my youngest who was 9 at the time by not using the word cancer and instead told him my partner had a lump growing in his tummy and needed an operation and some special medicine to treat it. It was a couple of weeks later that I mentioned the word cancer to him as he was becoming distant and not wanting to kiss or hug my partner as he didn't want to hurt him. My son asked lots of questions but accepted it more easily then and started to give hugs and cuddles again. I also spoke to both kids teachers and kept them in the picture how things were developing and they offered both my kids time to talk to them and were on standby to get the school nurse involved if needed. Kids are very resilient and can handle more than you think, I think sometimes we try to overprotect them. But that's our way of coping not theirs. So sorry you are in this situation Lots of hugs

Thanks to all of you for your comments, experiences and encouragement. My wife and I told our children today. Our 11 year old understood and was able to express that she felt scared, frightened and upset, but that she hoped I would get better and wanted to help mummy more. Our 9 year old I'm not sure really processed the news properly. She didn't really react, but knowing her I think she'll be thinking it all through at the moment and then will start asking questions. We made it clear that they should ask questions whenever they wanted, and no matter how strange or odd the questions was, they should ask it. We also told them that we might not always know the answer, and that we had lots of questions and were asking the doctors, and that with cancer there aren't always answers yet.