When a parent is diagnosed with cancer, often times they don't know what to say to their children.

When Laura Cuty-Ruiz received the shocking diagnosis of breast cancer it was important for her and her husband to spend time together processing the difficult news they just received. "All my kids went to different houses that night and had fun sleepovers while we brainstormed how we were going to handle the children and talk to the children about it the next day."

Since the Ruiz children are all different ages, Laura says it was important to tell them one at a time, in a way that was age appropriate. For the oldest, they used the term breast cancer. But when it came to their 5 year old they could not be so technical. "We told her in a much more watered down general fashion that mommy was sick, even though she didn't look sick and that she had something in her breast that didn't belong there and needed to come out."

But at any age, Radiologist Mary Kay Peterson says that it's important to talk to your children about your diagnosis. "She did all the right steps and now is continuing to do all the right steps. She took a negative situation she turned that all into a positive."

While going through treatment for your cancer, you will rely heavily on your family and friends for support. With open and honest communication, your children are also included in that support system. Laura also says, "My children have been absolutely wonderful and they've been the brightness in the difficult times through this."

Laura's 10-year-old Julia says "She's just a really great mom and I was glad that she went through it well."

Laura's 5-year-old Maia says, "Oh, it is so exciting. I'm so excited because mommy's better."

Remember, you're not going through this illness alone, you're going through this as a family. Laura even started bringing her children to her doctor's appointments.

For more information on talking to your kids about cancer you can visit the American Cancer Society online at www.cancer.org.