Why do you think you are high risk?

Anonymous

Im high risk because

...Im BRCA2 positive

...One sister had ca of ovary

...Mother and Aunt had bc

...Grandmother had ca ovary

...I had one node positive

...Im er/pr negative

...Im HER2 positive

...I was on Prempro for 5 years (now a known carcinogen)

...Since I had my son at age 17, I didnt breast feed. Had that shot to dry up the milk.

...Im overweight

...I smoke - now thats really terrible cause its something I can control. Have been trying to quit since April 2005!!

Im sure there are more reasons, I just cant think of them now. My older sister was diagnosed 3 months after me and testing positive for the same BRCA2 gene!

But its funny! All in all Im enjoying life and trying not to worry too much.

Nicki

Margerie

I know I am at high risk because:

multi-focal IDC, plus DCIS
5+ nodes
extracapsular invasion- one node
Her2 3+
grade 3
diagnosed pre-menopausal
had 1st child > age 30
took oral contraceptives for 10 years before 1st pregnancy
diagnosed soon after baby#3 was born
didn't take off 30 pounds of baby weight
lived in the south where they sprayed the entire neighborhood for mosquitos all summer.
I have been known to heat up food in plastic in the microwave.
We used to live under power lines.
I never took my vitamins.

Well, the last few ones are probably old wives' tales. I put my money on the birth control pills and waiting to have kids until I was 31.

I tested neg for BRCA, there is no cancer history in my family, I have always been active and had a good diet, a few sweets not withstanding. I only ponder this, don't want to plaque myself with quilt, because I frickin' want someone to figure out why so many women are getting hit with this storm.

ruths2

I am high risk beacause:

-first lump biopsied in 1992
-lumpectomy LCIS in 2000
-mixed multifocal IDC and ILC (2cm)in 2005
-13 of 18 positive nodes
-I started my periods at 10 years old
-I took birth control pills from 14 to 19 years old (before the days when the were low estrogen)
-I am PR- which correlates with tamoxifen resistance and though my periods have stopped my counts say I'm still premenopausal so I can't take an AI yet

Overall, I guess it's the lymph nodes that make me most concerned about my risk...
-Ruth

myrnaincabc

I think Im high risk becaues:
I was dx with IDC Stage I, Triple negative, gread 3 9 of 9 on scale. Im adopted so I dont know any family history. ( Having BRACA test run just got OK from insurance)
Took ERT for the last 14 years, hysterectomy in 92 due to to many cysts. Had my boys at age 19 and 21 and only breast fed on for a few days. Had a miscarriage at age 16 had shot to dry up milk ( how does that increase risk)
Smoked/dont anymore
Live in the South when they sprayed for mosquitoes
Didnt take vitimines or excersise or eat right
Did eat food out of plastic frequently
I would also like to know why so many of us are getting hit with this.
8 chemos 4 AC 4 Tax last one this Wed. then rads
Myrna

gramof4

I think I am high risk because:
I started my periods at age 10
I was obese for most of my adult life (within the last two years have lost 130 pounds)
I do smoke and am trying to quit but so far not successful
I have a triple negative bc, grade 3, 9/9 on bloom richardson scale, no nodes involved though
I have heated in plastic in microwave
I had three children and had the shot to dry up milk all three times (is this a risk factor??)
I am premenopausal.

Joyce

cmb35

I think I'm high risk because I was grade 3, triple neg, pos node, and was dx at 41, and because of the damn "poorer prognosis" stuff everywhere for hormone neg/node pos I guess...

Margerie, totally cracked up at the plastic in the microwave! I just found out that was bad - I had no idea! I always heat up in plastic Glad containers. Worse yet, my fiance heats up his x-large coffee in the styrofoam cup every day of his life at least once a day, if not more! I have no idea of any of this plastice/styrofoam stuff is true or not, but I think about it now every time, and try to transfer to something that actually says "microwave safe", especially when heating something up for my son. (O/T but does anyone else do that too? I will do things when my child is involved, e.g., organic produce, that I don't always do for myself.)

cmb35

sorry for the typos! meant to be "if any of this plastic" whoops!

SoCalLisa

I had a mastectomy of my right breast over five years ago and did six months of chemo and five years of tamoxifen and arimidex. But three years ago I had some atypical hyperplasia in my left breast.
I had it taken out but did not do a prophylactic mast. My oncologist does clinical breast exams every three months plus my mammos every year.
Keeping my fingers crossed...Lisa

Anonymous

I think I am high risk because:

I had multi-focal ILC and LCIS (largest tumor 3.9cm), both in left breast

I have extremely dense breast tissue that mammos can't see through

I had a so-called benign tumor in same breast when I was 18

I had an unclean margin at my chest wall

My Sentinal Node was positive

I never had children

I have a history of cysts and fibrocystic tissue

I took birth control pills for 7 years

I drink wine

I was pre-menopausal at time of diagnosis

Laura

Beesie

I answered this originally in the other High Risk forum, but since that forum is now specifically for non-BC patients and this is the new forum for those of us who've already been diagnosed with BC but are still high risk, I'll re-post my answer here.

Here's my list of risk factors:

- Family history: I have a mother and aunt who've had BC. My mother was older when she was diagnosed, but my aunt was pre-menopausal.

- Abnormal breast biopsies: If you've had more than 2 benign biopsies, you're at greater risk of getting BC. I've had 5 benign biopsies, 4 in my 'good' breast, and 1 in the breast that was subsequently diagnosed with BC. I've also had ADH, which increases my risk of BC in both breasts. And I have dense breasts, which recent studies have shown to be another risk factor.

- Breast Cancer: I've had BC, and according to the American Cancer Society, "A woman with cancer in one breast has a 3- to 4-fold increased risk of developing a new cancer in the other breast or in another part of the same breast. This is different from a recurrence (return) of the first cancer."

- I'm left-handed: I seriously don't know if this is a factor, but a recent study says it might be. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/25/AR2005092501152.html

- Personal factors: I've never had children nor breastfed, and I drink the occasional glass of wine - both are factors that increase risk. At this point I can’t do much about the first, and I need the wine to keep me sane considering all of these other factors!

I think there are others but those are the ones that come to mind now.

ruths2

Clink! I like my wine too! I say it's a "qualtiy of life issue."
-Ruth

SOMYLUCK

I think I am high risk due to: (I'm 36 yo)

1) Having an 8cm mass (DCIS) w/comedo necrosis
2) Grandmother on one side died from ovarian cancer
3) " " on other side died from cervical cancer
4) Took birth control pills 10 yrs before 1st pregnancy
5) ER/PR neg and HER2 positive
6) Was a smoker for about 16 years, (quit 5 yrs ago)!
7) Social drinker since early 20's
8) Not getting clear margins after tram flap procedure
9) Started periods at age 11
10) Seem to have a streak of bad luck these days......

P.S. Other than a 2nd cousin who's died from bc at age 47, there is no other family history.

Erica35

So many ways to blame ourselves.... don't think our history of drinking, smoking, birth control or not, breast feeding or not is going to make a big difference in our risk for reoccurance. I definitely think weight gain will play a role because I'm ER+. Don't know how I am going to get a handle on my emotional overeating in this chemo hell. Any ideas for weight control during chemo?

My risk factors:

Atypical ductal hyperplasia
Stage 3, grade 3
Positive lymph nodes with extrusion
Overweight
Never pregnant
Now I need to add left handed to the list

My question is what can we do to modify our risk factors or deal with the anxiety of it all....

Jaybird627

I am a high risk for BC just because I'm a female!!! That, and I'm BRCA2+ (gotta love genetics!).

Janis L

ravdeb

Okay..so I think I may be at high risk because...

1) I read this thread! (I mean, I never realized that I'm a high risk for recurrence! YIKES!).

2) I was triple neg (but sentinel node was neg BUT I always wonder...should he have taken out a couple more "just in case"?)

3) Had lumpectomy..slightly higher risk...

4) I'm a woman!!!!

5)Risk is going down cuz I STOPPED heating stuff up in plastic in the microwave and NO MORE styrofoam cups in our house!!!!

lapsang

When the term "high risk" is used clinically, it refers to women who have not had BC (sometimes this includes women who have had DCIS because of the confused state of terminology with DCIS), but because of other factors are more likely to get BC. I really think that it is hard enough to get through terms, definitions etc, without re-defining another. Sorry, it is precisely because of my own
muddled mind that I need to keep clear, that I bring this up! Perhaps somewhere there is already a word that means "more likely to have a recurrence." Probably not.

mkl48

Hi,
I thought early pregnancy reduced risk as it reduced the number of lifetime ovulations. The data on birth control is mixed. Does high risk for developing BC also increase recurrence risk?
I thought once one got it, the increase was there .Beth
I had a low average risk for BC in the breast I developed a large tumor in- low density at age 40 and " fatty" So much for that.

mkl48

Hi, You may be feeling guilt needlessly.Actually being overwieght pre- meno is associated with a lower risk of BC in the pre-meno years.Most over weight women pre-meno will continue to be or even gain post-meno which is when the risk from weight increases. I have only heard of the risk being associated with er+ because the body fat is a source of estrogen production even when ovaries are producing it. That is why AIs work, they eliminate the estrogen from all sources. Congratulations on the weight loss. It can only help your health and represents a significant achievment. There are studies that suggest weight loss after BC has a positive effect so you may have done yourself a lot of good in the BC as well. also in the Woman's Health Study the greatest effect from a low fat diet was seen in er- women. Eating fat and being fat are associated, but not the same thing.Exercise seems even more significant as recurrence preventative. Beth

Anonymous

Obesity! It surely is a risk factor for bc and many other health issues.

HRT: Prepro has now been determined to be a carcingen for breast cancer. Yet it amazes me that gynes are still prescribing it to help with menopausal symptoms.

Environment: Who the heck knows whats going on, but I am sure seeing alot more people getting cancer. Its got to be in the formula for high risk.

The biggest reason I feel Im high risk, is that I have already had bc once. If I got it once, whats to stop from getting cancer again?

So Im trying to stay vigilant with my follow up appointments. Eating healthy - much more fruits and vegetables. And exercise? Well Im thinking about it lol. Just havent gotten the motivation to start again.

I do always park as far away as I can - I know the walking is good for you.

Why am I high risk? I think about this disease and this journey everyday. Hopefully knowledge is power.

Nicki

Beesie

lapsang,

If I get BC again, it's unlikely to be a recurrence. I had DCIS with a microinvasion - early Stage 1 - and I had a mastectomy. With that diagnosis and that treatment, my recurrence risk is 1%.

I am however at high risk for getting breast cancer again. I only had a single mastectomy, so I am at high risk - about 20%-25% - of getting BC in my remaining breast. Even for women who have a lumpectomy, if they get a 2nd occurrence of BC in the same breast many years later, chances are that this is a new unrelated occurrence of breast cancer rather than a recurrence. Anyone who's had BC once who doesn't have a bilateral mastectomy is at higher risk of getting a 2nd breast cancer. So the term "high risk" does apply to women who've already been diagnosed. But it is different than a recurrence, which is more likely to happen within the first 5 years after the first diagnosis (but could still happen many years later).

skirk

I would like to know how many woman have got breast cancer in their remaining breast?? I am considering having my unaffected breast removed, as I was not able to finish all of my chemo due to complications.
My dr. says the risk is not high, but I would like to know from real women that this has happened to, because it seems to me that once you have had it, it is more than likely to come back.
Thanks Everyone

mkl48

HI,

I am having trouble actually doing this, but the colon study and breast cance study have made me think that exercise may do something that reduces reocurance. That this was found in both cancers seems persuasive to me. Beth

Anonymous

nm: In all the studies that I have read, exercise and weight loss are significant in preventing reocurrances.

Skirk: when I was first diagnosed, I made the decision for bil mast cause I just thought if it came to one breast it would come to the other. Pathology for the good breast showed atypical lobuplar hyperplasia. So it would have been a bomb waiting to happen. In my case, I was glad I had the bilateral.

Nicki

Anonymous

Anonymous

Wow, interesting question. Besides that I have lived 4 blocks from the water sewer treatment plant for 27 yrs (2 neigbors under 50 died already & my DH and man across the way have PC), this has been my life:

SMOKER since too embarrassed to tell what age-- (quit over and over, currently off)

1st breast bx at 19, with multiple bilat. bx's b9, last b9 one 2004--and they lost my mammo from 05' (it was probably on that one)

exposed to pesticides thru work 20+ yrs.
Already treated w/ablation and clinical trial chemo for liver CA

Birth control age 17-24
Progestins for 5 yrs to stop abnormal bleeding

No breast feeding my child

Cousin and aunt w/BC & OV CA

Guess thats enuff. BRCA results on Monday...

LizM

I think I am at low risk for a local recurrence and intermediate risk for distant recurrence.

low risk for local recurrence because I had a bi-lateral mastectomy and chemo and radiation to the chest wall, auxilla and supraclavical nodes.

intermediate risk for distant recurrence because my tumor was 2 cm, one positive lymph node, grade 1 and ER/PR ++ her2 negative.

However, I really believe that breast cancer is a crap shoot and cancer cells don't always behave the way they think they will. I also believe that we can reduce our risk of recurrence by eating a healthy diet (ER/PR neg), exercising 30 minutes a day (ER/PR ++), avoiding alcohol (ER/PR ++), avoiding cigarette smoke and trying to avoid toxins in our environment. After that it is in God's hands.

Sam_in_IN

I think I am at high risk because

Maternal grandmother bc
Maternal cousins bc
Maternal great aunt colon cancer

Paternal aunt bc
paternal cousins bc
paternal aunt ovarian cancer
paternal cousin uterine cancer

I was dx with stage 2 grade 2 IDC one pos node
dx at 38
had two previous b9 breast bx
have another lump in the same breast that is showing some skin indentation above the lump and this lump is near a previous bx just like my cancer was.
If I take the info from my pathology report and look at the individual components all point to high risk.
I have never smoked but have lived with a smoker all of my life.
I am trying to be positive that I will never have cancer again but with my family history and all of the different cancers (not mentioned) I will probably get cancer again.

mkl48

Liz,

I know the low fat study, counter intuitively, showed more impact in er-, but do you think from your reading, onc, that diet is irrelevent in er+? Also do you ever drink a glass of wine? My onc has never said Eat this, avoid that. He is a senior doc at an NCI center and he takes a lot of time with me.Are you going back to brocco sprouts?

mkl48

Nicki,

I know the studies support obesity as a factor in peri amd post
meno ER+ BC, but have you read studies about its impact on ER-,post meno BC? Does exercise impact both the same? I sure hope Edge is wrong about dietary garlic and BC. Garlic makes eating so many foods that help reduce obesity taste better.Beth

Anonymous

(nm46) Beth: Since I am er/pr negative and HER2 positive, yes - I have read many studies. Reading transcripts from ASCO and the San Antonio Conference are my favorites. The SA Conference is due again in December.

The one thing I like about bc.org is the diveristy and wealth of information they provide to us. There is a whole section right here on risk factors. They strongly encourage us to follow the guidelines set up by the American Cancer Society and they even give you a direct connection to the site which talks about risk factors.

...Hormone status or not. Research has found that obesity puts you at risk for breast cancer and for reoccurances. More fat cells, more estrogen. More fat cells = more Insulin Growth Factor which stimulates breast cells to grow.

...Regualr exercise, again despite hormone status, decreases your risk of breast cancer. In addition it improves self esteem, increases fitness, and decreases anxiety and depression.

...Diet is also extremely important, despite hormone status. Eat more fruits and vegetable, whole grains. Avoid precessed or red meats.

Obesity is CLEARLY linked to
...breast cancer
...colon cancer
...uterine cancer
...esophageal cancer
...kidney cancer.

Obesity is LIKELY linked to
...cervix cancer
...gall bladder cancer
...Hodkins Lymphome
...Ovarian cancer
...Pancreatic cancer
...Thyroid cancer
...An aggressive form of prostate cancer.

Now - this information is from ACS and most recently updated May 2006!

And now just my opinion on the infamous EDGE. I have not said much because so many of you think so highly of him. My own personal choice is not to listen to him or read any of his posts. Im not about to have a stranger tell me what to do or what not to do. And Im certainly not gonna have him put me on any plan of treatment. I know he recomends Tumuric and recently there are some issues about taking taking it may be very dangerous.

When we are looking for a healthy life style, preventing breast cancer is our primary target, but hey - high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease are biggies too.

JMO - to tell someone to stop eating garlic is in my eyes ridiculous.

I started this thread cause I thought it would be an interesting to talk to each other about why WE think we are high risk. Certainly didnt want this to turn into a debate.

Has it been proven that getting a shot to dry up your milk after child birth is a risk factor? I dont know. But I put it in my high risk profile.

What really bothers me is that it is US - we have been through this journey. We are fearful for what is gonna happen in our futures. When I get a certain side effect, I hate it when a doctor says, well thats not in the list of side effects. Well, how does something get in the list. I have alot of side effects that other women also have. But its not in the books.

So thats my 2 cents. When I need information I go to bc.org and not a stranger who I know nothing about.

"All Women Are At Risk For Breast Cancer." Some have a higher risk than others. bc.org also posts the most recent research and transcripts from ASCO and San Antonio. Lots of good reading right here on this site.

Beth: May I also recommend when you are quoting research, you tell us where you got it from?

Good Luck to everyone

Nicki

Anonymous

Quote:

---

Im high risk because

...Im BRCA2 positive

...One sister had ca of ovary

...Mother and Aunt had bc

...Grandmother had ca ovary

...I had one node positive

...Im er/pr negative

...Im HER2 positive

...I was on Prempro for 5 years (now a known carcinogen)

...Since I had my son at age 17, I didnt breast feed. Had that shot to dry up the milk.

...Im overweight

...I smoke - now thats really terrible cause its something I can control. Have been trying to quit since April 2005!!

Im sure there are more reasons, I just cant think of them now. My older sister was diagnosed 3 months after me and testing positive for the same BRCA2 gene!

But its funny! All in all Im enjoying life and trying not to worry too much.

Nicki

---

Hey - Im quoting myself. Just wanted to tell everyone once again why I think Im high risk.

Nutty Nicki Nurse