Girl, 8, is thought be the youngest person with BREAST CANCER

An eight-year-old girl has been diagnosed with breast cancer, in what is thought to be the youngest case ever of the disease.

Chrissy Turner, from Utah, discovered a lump on her chest last month. 

'It was about the middle of October she came to us with a lump on her chest and was scared,' her father Troy told ABC4 Utah News.

To her parents' horror, tests revealed she was suffering from a very rare form of breast cancer called secretory carcinoma.

This type of the disease affects just one in a million people diagnosed with the disease - and Chrissy will now need to undergo a mastectomy.  

'I was scared the first time I knew about it,' she said. 'But I knew I could fight it off and I hope that I can fight it off. 

Both of her parents have suffered from cancer previously.

Her mother, Annette, has battled cervical cancer, while her father is currently battling of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, having been diagnosed when she was a baby.

Speaking about her daughter's shocking diagnosis, Mrs Turner told the TV station: 'I broke down. It's a struggle every day worrying about my family, about my husband and now my baby girl.'

Chrissy will undergo her surgery operation at the Huntsman Cancer Institute, Utah.

In the meantime, friends of the family have started a Go Fund Me campaign to raise money for medical bills while the Turners vow to stay strong for their daughter.

'We're just going to keep fighting,' her mother said. 'Doing everything we can to smile every day and laugh every day and carry our head high and do our best to overcome this.' 

Writing on the fundraising page she has created for the Turners, family friend Melissa Papaj wrote: ‘Chrissy’s case is being presented nationally and is being reviewed by top oncologists in the country along with being taken to the Utah state tumor board next week.’

She also revealed the family is facing a double nightmare - as Mr Turner’s cancer has returned.

‘Adding to the plate is the fact that her daddy, yes, Chrissy’s daddy, Troy, is still fighting his battle with cancer too.

‘In August 2008, Troy was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, after eight months of rigorous chemotherapy; Troy’s cancer went into remission. 

'In 2011, a PET CT scan revealed cancer activity and yet the cancer isn’t growing quickly enough to respond to therapy, so they are currently in a “watch and wait” state as the cancer slowly grows, visiting the oncologist every three months for a full exam and blood work.

‘All the while, medical bills are continuing to pile up, forcing them to file bankruptcy in July 2013, but even after bankruptcy, bills continue to flow.’

She added: ‘As a Decorated Veteran of Foreign War while serving in Operation Desert Storm, never in their lives together, did Troy and his wife Annette expect that they would fight tougher battles, but they were wrong.

‘Now is our time to give back to this amazing family, to help them, to cheer for them, to support, and pray for them. Anything you can donate, anything at all, will help.'

To donate to the Turner family, visit: https://www.gofundme.com/chrissysalliance 

Follow NEWS.am Medicine on Facebook and Twitter