For four years, Siteman has offered a unique awareness program for children of breast cancer patients. As an extension of that program, a new book, "Finding Normal," is available to teenagers to help them understand and cope with cancer in the family.

Co-authored by St. Louis Children''s Hospital clinical psychologist Susan Sylvia, PhD, the book''s intent is not only to educate, but also to be engaging and fun for teens.

HUGS (an acronym for "Help Us Give Support") is a program for families dealing with breast cancer that is composed of two different elements. One is a support program that helps children between the ages of five and twelve understand cancer and better cope with their family''s experience by meeting with peers and by learning coping strategies. The other is the "Teen Advisory Council." Formed in 2005 through funding from the Komen-St. Louis Race for the Cure, their goal was to create this journal for their peers – something that wasn’t previously available.

"There is a real lack of up-to-date materials for teenagers who are dealing with a cancer experience in their family," says Teresa Deshields, PhD, manager of psycho-oncology services at the Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine. "This book will fill that gap."

Connie Vogt’s five children struggled with her breast cancer diagnosis in 2002 and she signed them up for the HUGS program. However, her older daughter Sarah, then 15, was too old for the program and wasn’t able to participate with her siblings. When Connie heard about the Teen Advisory Council, she asked if Sarah wanted to join.

"I wanted to do it because there are a lot of teens with moms with breast cancer and they’re all going through what I was," says Sarah, now 17. "I just think they need to know they’re not alone."

The journal was created by the Siteman Cancer Center, with the help of the Teen Advisory Council, and funded by the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. The HUGS program is also sponsored by the St. Louis Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, St. Louis Cardinals Care and the St. Louis Public Library.

A companion journal for younger children, "finding MY way," is also available. The books sell for $5.25, but are free for families undergoing breast cancer treatment at the Siteman Cancer Center and are also available to those unable to attend the HUGS program. For more information about the HUGS program or to order copies of either "Finding Normal" or "finding MY way," call Siteman''s Barnard Health and Cancer Information Center at 314-362-7844.