Women under 45 stage II w/node involvement?

Pinkprincess

Hello..... I am 36 years old, dx at 35 IDC with 3 positive nodes. ER and PR+ and HER-. I have had lumpectomy, bmx, chemo, rads and next Femara. I am on Lupron injections and have been in chemical menopause since September 2010. Just a little about me and my journey, looking for others under 45 with similar DX and treatment plan.

Babs37

 I am 38 years old, dx at 37 IDC, triple negative, with 2 positive nodes. I did neoadjuvant chemo, 4 DD AC + 12 weekly Taxol, right radical mastectomy and 25 rads to mx site, armpit and clavicule (the first 20 rads with bolus).

Pinkprincess

I also had 4 DD A/C and 12 weekly Taxol. Thank GOD that's over:) How are you feeling?

jdeking

I'm also 36 (33 at dx) with a 1.7cm ER/PR+ Her2- and node positive tumor.  I did 6 rounds of TAC and 33 rads. I only did a lumpectomy, but now am having serious second thoughts about going back for a bmx.

 I am going the Tamox route, but just had to have surgery to remove 12 uterine fibroids that were going crazy from the extra estrogen. Not sure if I will continue the Tamox, or try the Lupron/AI route. I do still have random periods (blah) but want to keep the ovaries as I have not had children yet.

Nice to meet the both of you, and good luck with your continued journey!

~Janine

Letlet

Hello I am 32...was 31 at dx. IDC w/ 6 pos nodes. Did uni mastectomy, DD E/C and T/H. Got shingles the week after last chemo! Had my exchange March 10, did 25 rads treatments, started Tamox, rested. Went back to work for a week and bang! Got pneumonia. My sisters in this journey, I am so sick and tired of being sick and tired. I am only 32 and I feel so old and sickly. I have tried to be positive and truly take care of myself but why, why? Before BC I never used to be sick now I feel like I am sick all the time...just venting...

Madismommy719

Hi fellow cancer "babies" (I wish I had a dollar for every time I've been called that!!! LOL)



I'm 35, just dx 2 months ago w/ IDC, grade 2, ER/PR+, HER2 neg, with 1/3 nodes positive. No family history and negative for BRCA. Had a BMX w/ TE's on 6/14/11 and meet with my onc. this week to finalize my chemo path.



It's been a complete whirlwind to say the least!!!!

mks16

I just turned 37 when I was diagnosed. I did  4 DD A/C and 4 Taxol -> that is all done as of June 1st. Now I am on a break, but will start radiation in July in spite of having had BMX.

My RO thought one of my  margins was too close for comfort. I had one lymph node involved but decided to have a lymph node dissection to make sure. My mastectomy wound had to be cleaned up surgically anyway so the decision was easy to make. 

My tumor was only weakly and partially ER positive, so I am somewhere between tripple negative and ER +. I am currently on Tamoxifen, but awaiting BRCA testing results to see whether a further surgery (ooph) would be beneficial... 

alison34

hi i am 35 ...... diagnosed jan 2010 - i had just turned 34

i had 3 positive nodes  so decided i was going to have the mastectomy and full node clearance

did chemo- 3 fec 3 taxol then 35 blasts of radiotherapy to mx site armpit and clavicule

er+ pr+ her2-

tomoxifen for 5 yrs

still having periods there was no way anything was stopping my cycle lol

waiting for a reconstruction

its been a long road but now on the road to recovery

alison x

Pinkprincess

AWESOME to see some more of us under 45, NOT really awesome but nice to know I am not alone. With all of the choices and issues that face younger women, such as having kids after cancer etc. it is nice to be able to connect. Welcome....lets use this thread to help one another through this journey:) Much LOVE, Heather

You can also find me on facebook as Heather Edwards Angst, look me up.

Madismommy719

Sadly, I just noticed this could be "under 40". It looks like we all are.



Do any of you know other women your age going through this also? I have 2 other friends that have been diagnosed this past year, both my age or younger. . And thru another friend, I know 2 more under 40. I just don't get it, what the heck is going on in this world when I know more people under 40 with breast cancer than people with any other ailments combined?

kris1

Hello ladies, I was diagnosed 5/11....just after my 37th birthday.  I had BMX (right side prophylactic) with TEs on 6/13/11. Had 2/8 nodes positive. Just got the rest of my drains out, what a relief!  Meeting with PS this week for my first "fill" and with med onc to determine my treatment plan..am prepared for chemo and rad.  So happy to find this link to my sisters who are in the same situation!  stay strong!!

Madismommy719

Welcome Kris, sorry you are going through this but happy to meet you!!!!



I had the same surgery the day after you, the 14th and also have my first fill and treatment plan appointments this week. How are you feeling recovery wise?? My TE's are the worst part so I'm hoping a little fill up will help some???

Beeb75

Hi there,

I was diagnosed a year ago at age 35. Just finished up all my treatment a few weeks ago (BMX with implant recon, ACT, radiation) and now I'm on to tamoxifen for 5 years.  

minxie

I was 42 when diagnosed, almost 45 now. And I have not met in real life a single other woman under 50 with BC - I feel like such a freak sometimes!

Best to you -

Madismommy719

Welcome ladies!!! Beeb, I think I'm going to be starting ACT soon....I have a treatment plan meeting with my new oncologist July 5th. My other oncologist said this regime is best for my cancer so I'll assume my new onc. will say the same thing?



Minxie, you aren't a freak at all!!! We just "lost the cancer lottery"... That's what I've decided with my diagnosis. I had zero cancer in my family (my large Irish family), tested negative for the gene too.... I had never even had a mammogram yet b/c my OB/GYN didn't feel it necessary until I was 40. Luckily I found my lump doing a self exam!!

mks16

In my daughter's grade 1 class, I am the third mom that is battling breast cancer. And at the age of 38, I am also the oldest of us. The youngest one passed away few months ago...

Is it normal for seven year old girls to talk about their moms hair growth and chemo treatments during playdates? It breaks my heart....

pejkug3

Oh, MKS16 - that is so sad/scary.

I'm 35, four living children, diagnosed 1/13/2011.  Chemo is done (6 x TCH) and I start rads today.  I found my cancer on my own.  Had a mammo when I was 30 as a basline at my absolutel insistence after my 2nd cousin's BC death.  I had clear nipple discharge that nagged me and got me in for another mammo in January 2011.  The rest is history...  I believe the "nagging" was God's leading to save my life.  I "knew" in July 2010 that I was facing cancer.  I just knew.  My lump was sized at 5mm after surgery and there was no way I could feel that in my DDD's.  But I knew exactly where it was.  Weird, huh?

Madismommy719

Mks, that totally breaks my heart!! I know of one other mom in my daughter's class that is battling BC b/c she reached out to help me once she heard. I believe she was 44 when DX but in my opinion, that also is WAY too young to be going through this. Any age is too young!



Pejkug, I also found my lump myself. I was only a 34B prior to my BMX so it was very easy to find. Unfortunately, I "ignored" it for a few months b/c I've always been prone to benign cysts since my late teens, I assumed that's what I was dealing with, another pain in the butt inconvenience.... Man was I wrong. . And man would I give anything for just an "inconvenience" now.

kris1

Hi Madismommy   recovery-wise i am feeling pretty good, much better than expected.  I am anxious to get the ok from PS to be able to drive again...am not good at "sitting around!"  Luckily i have a sister close by who is 8 1/2 months pregnant that comes to keep me company during the day while everyone is working!   and of course the thought of a new baby always makes me smile!  totoally agree the TEs are annoying...i was rather small chested prior to BMX so the TEs feel awkward under my skin.  Like you said, am hoping that my first fill will help things feel more normal.  My BS said that most likely ACT will be my regimen also, possibly 8-12 week cycle.  Other than the TEs, how has your recovery been?

Minxie, you are not a freak!  Since diagnosis someone said to me "most people know nothing about BC until they find out that they have it...then it is the focus of their life."  Like Madismommy said, we lost the cancer lottery.  I have zero family history and am a complete health nut/gym rat...NO reason that I should have been diagnosed with BC.  Stay positive and strong, no negative thoughts!  You will be just fine!

kris1

Hi Pejkug..i found my lump also, it actually just felt different rather than a lump. I already had an appt scheduled with my gyn for my annual and figured I would just mention it at my appt, thank God that i did!  It ended up being one of 2 tumors on the same side (found after mamo, MRI and 2 ultrasounds).  I can totally relate when you say you "just knew"....and it was for sure God telling me to get it checked.  Being 36 at the time, I wouldnt have normally even been considered for mamo for several years normally..

sundermom

I fit right into this group.  I was diagnosed in November 2010 at the age of 37.  I vividly remember when I knew it was BC.  My DD ( I have 5 little ones) jumped on my chest when I was laying on the couch and it felt strange.  I immediately went upstairs to my bathroom and started feeling around.  I found a lump.  That was on  Saturday (of course) and I called my OBGYN and got in on Tuesday.  He felt the lump too and sent me for a mammo/us the next day.  A biopsy a week later confirmed what I knew the second my daughter jumped on me. 

I opted for a BMX in December 2010.  The little voice inside me told me to do the BMX even though all PET and MRI showed only a Stage I dx. Thankfully I listened to that little voice.  The BC turned out to be multi-focal - 2.6 cm lesion with a 0.9 satellite lesion.  Scary crap!   Then, due to the fact two pesky nodes were involved I got the hit with 8 rounds of DD AC/T.  I am currently finishing up rads (28 regs and 8 boosts) and will take Tamoxifen starting in August. 

It's been a crazy 8 months!!! It scares the number of younger women that are being hit with this disease.  It terrifies me for my 3 beautiful daughters and for my friends. 

Great thread BTW

Tammy

Madismommy719

Kris, recovery has been ok, I honestly think 75% of my discomfort and pain is coming from the TE's at this point. I still haven't driven at all, mainly because my WAY over-protective mother won't let me!!! She's being slightly crazy at this point. I don't intend to go on a road trip or anything crazy, but it'd be nice to take my daughter to the library or go get some ice cream or something???? Being laid up, stuck at home is really getting old!!!! She even hid my car keys the other day and shows up evy morning at my house so I'm not here alone, ha ha..... Earlier today she had to run and get her haircut, my husband was at work and my daughter at a friends house and my mom was freaking out that I wanted to take a shower while home alone, CRAZY!!!!! Ok, I'm done whining about my mom loving me so much she won't let me out of her sight. LOL

I'm driving somewhere next week.....



Tammy, welcome to the club.....it is so terrifying the number of women under 50 diagnosed with this everyday isn't it?? Makes me so angry!!! I too found my own lump, I wasn't going to have my 1st mammogram until 40 (I'm 35) because I have zero history of ANY cancers in my family and never had any issues..... I've only been on this ride for 2 months now and CRAZY is definitely the right word for it!!!!

cookiegal

Hiya...I am 44 now...42 at DX....I am the oldest one at YSC, yet younger than most women with BC.

One darn node.....

And lymphedema

Have a great weekend!!!! 

pejkug3

LE - ugh.  So sorry.

I started rads yesterday - what drama that was.  I'm sure I'll settle in though.

LE is my fear in going through rads.  I'm getting my nodes hit since new research supports having them done.  Stinkin' one darn positive node...

Patriotic

Hi. I am 41. I was 40 at the first "sign." Diagnosed 3 weeks after my 41st birthday. I also thought I was too young until coming here. And, my treatment center has hoards of young women, sadly. I chat with them every week and most have young kids, too. It just sucks!



I am doing neoadjuvent chemo. I have 2 nodes involved so I will be doing chemo for 11 more weeks. Ugh.

kris1

Welcome Tammy, Cookie & Patriotic...sad that you are part of our club but happy that we can travel the road together!   It is so scary how many ladies our age are being diagnosed..the breast center that I go to is typically full of women our age.  Tammy, how did you do during AC/T?  Am seeing my onc tomorrow and expecting a similar treatment course...

 Madismommy, thank God for moms!  lol I can relate...mine would be living with us if she could! At my PS appt today I plan to beg, plead...whatever it takes for him to say I can drive!  Am supposed to be out of work for 6 weeks...omg seriously?  I will definitely be asking about that also!  PS appt is in a couple of hours, I'll let you know how the fill goes.  How have you been doing sleeping with the TEs?  I'm doing ok but concerned about laying on my left side where nodes were taken...worried about damn lymphedema...

 Speaking of nodes, did anyone who had nodes out have a more difficult time getting your range of motion back on that side?  I feel more of a strain under my armpit when I do my stretching exercises, normal??

PennyG

Hi girls, I was diagnosed last July at age 44. I chose to do chemo first. Before I started, they confirmed that I had 2 lymphnodes involved. I did 4 DD AC followed by 12 weekly Taxol. Had BMX in January and had a pCR to the chemo. I exchanged to silicone implants last month.



Like MKS16, my tumor was only weakly and partially ER positive, so I am somewhere between triple neg and ER +. Nonetheless, I am on Tamoxifen for 3 months now. My hair has grown back very curly and all kinds of strange colors. I was pushed into chemopause too.



I am so sad to see how many young women there are with BC. Of course, I'm also sad to see ANY women with BC. It's ridiculous and heartbreaking. BC doesn't run in my family and I had routine mammos and u/s exams every year. I got genetically tested and do not carry the genes. I found my lump on my own. It was hiding among the many cysts I've always had in my dense breast tissue, but it was suddenly larger than the rest. Self exams are so very important!



I wish you all the best. Since I'm at the end of my treatments, I'm here to help those in the midst of their journey in any way I can. We're all unique, but we share many things. God bless you, my sisters.

Madismommy719

Welcome cookie and patriotic! Although, it makes me so sad/ angry to come in here and see even more women here....we're ALL too young.....



Kris, I have my PS appointment this morning too, I think I'm getting my first fill but I've been so uncomfortable I don't know what to expect....here's hoping we find a little relief. I can't even attempt to lay on either side or even flat on my back, the pressure in my chest is unreal. My mom is driving me today so hopefully when I beg to drive she'll listen to the doctor say I can!!!!! LOL. Or, they'll gang up on me like she and my husband seem to do. I'm not supposed to go back to work for 4-6 weeks either, I'm thinking 4 tops. Sitting around on my butt is getting old.



So, I found out yesterday that I have to have more surgery.....the doctors, both my city and burbs doctors want an auxiliary node dissection.....otherwise they feel I should have radiation and they don't want me to be "over treated". I agree but I'm terrified of lymphadema....plus, now my chemo start will push into early august now.... Such is life I guess?

kriskat

I belong here as well- dx just couple days after turning 36 with triple positive IDC with a lymph node involved. Just finished 6 rounds of TCH and have consult with ro on 6/25/11. Really turned my world upside down:(

wendy72

Hello All!  I had my biopsy one week after my 39th birthday. What factors are involved in deciding what kind of treatment a person recieves?  I have read through a lot of threads and cannot find a commonality in treatment decisions.

sanbar8771

Hello,

I was 33 when DX and went through, lumpectomy,node removal, AC,Taxol (4x)12 weeks. I had a prophalactic BMX just had my TE replaced monday. Im on zoladex to keep my ovaries shut down and Tamox. I also had 2 out of 17 nodes positive and I am BRCA2+ (unspecified Variant).

Julie