Mom to Mom: How We're Parenting Through Breast Cancer

July 27, 2026 - 19:54

Deltra James and Jess Fioretti never expected to be raising teenagers while fighting a terminal illness. Both women are living with metastatic breast cancer, and they have found an unlikely source of strength in each other. Their shared experience has become a powerful lesson in resilience for their children.

James, a mother of two, was diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer in 2020. She remembers the moment she had to tell her teenage son. "I sat him down and just said it straight," she recalls. "I told him that mommy was very sick, but that we would fight it together." Fioretti, whose cancer spread to her bones and liver, faced a similar conversation with her daughter. "Kids know when something is wrong," she says. "Hiding it only makes them more scared."

Instead of shielding their teens from the harsh realities, both mothers chose honesty. They bring their children to doctor appointments when possible and explain the side effects of treatment in plain terms. "I want them to see what courage looks like," James explains. "Not the movie version, but the real thing. The days when I can't get out of bed, and they bring me water anyway."

Their bond formed through a support group for young mothers with advanced cancer. They text each other before scans and celebrate small victories together. Fioretti says her daughter has learned to advocate for herself because of this journey. "She watched me question doctors and demand better care. Now she does the same in her own life."

Both women acknowledge the guilt of not being able to do everything they once did. But they focus on what they can offer. "I can't drive to every soccer game anymore," James says. "But I can sit on the couch and listen to him talk about his day. That matters too."

Their message to other parents facing similar battles is simple. Let your kids see you struggle. Let them see you keep going. That is the lesson that will last long after the treatments are over.