Diagnosis Under 30?

roadwarrior28

I am 28 and I was diagnosed with breast cancer....today.

I initially went in to see my doctor when I noticed a lump. The lump turned out to be a benign cyst which actually burst during the biopsy, but they noticed calcifications on the mammogram which came back cancerous. I still have to get an MRI and meet with a surgeon, so don't know much more...

Would love to hear from other young women who have been diagnosed or survived breast cancer. How did you find out/what made you consult a doctor? 

MiniMacsMom

There are a fair amount of us on here   I was 27 at DX, 28 now and only one chemo round left!! WOOT!  You will get through it!  I found my lump when I stopped nursing, it didn't change for 2 mo so I got it checked out.  This part that you are in sucks!  I definatley urge you to get a second opinion at a major medical center before you make any decisions.  I didn't wait and I might have had better cosmetic results if I had done chemo before surgery.  There are many different options out there   I travel to MDAnderson in TX for my second opinion!  Mostly though, just breath and try to give yourself time to think about the happy non-cancer parts of your life!

roadwarrior28

Thanks for responding! Right now I am very grateful that I found it at all - if it wasn't for the benign cyst, I would have never went in for a mammogram. I am also grateful to live in an area with 2 top notch health care systems that are always rated in top 10 in the country - so I'm getting opinions at both. 

I don't have a lump, just calcifications, so hoping to get away with minor surgery... 

cconner

Hi there,

I'm so sorry to hear about your diagnosis. I am also 28 and found a lump this past November which was evidently positive for breast cancer. I had surgery in January and started my chemo in February. Yesterday I had my 3rd treatment of 6 total. It is quite terrifying news and I remember feeling like my world was caving in when I first found out, but there is so much life ahead of us. I have a daughter who turned two right before I started chemo and the best realization for me was that by the time she's 3, treatment will be complete. most treatments are usually less than a year. With that said, at the beginning of this journey you want to be sure to choose your health care team carefully. I was luckily referred to an amazing surgeon. I had planned to go with her "team" including a plastic surgeon and oncologist. The oncologist I met with was very nice and informative, but something just didn't feel right. I had chosen to get a second opinion which proved to be the best thing for me. Remember, you have to feel comfortable with those who are caring for you. Best of luck to you! And yes, as young women, we are very lucky to have found what we did early enough to treat it.

Another thing that really helped me was to read Chicken soup for the breast cancer survivors soul.

birdgirl

Hey, I am 29 and was diagnosed last December. I found a lump in July that got really big really fast (mostly because I have a BRCA 1 mutation). Sometimes I feel ripped off because it isn't "normal" to have cancer in your 20s. While it's a sucky club to have membership in, it is good to know we aren't alone. Best wishes to you all during this journey.

drbean13

Things will get a little less scary once you have decisions about treatment made.



I was diagnosed with triple positive breast cancer at 26 years old. I'm still dealing with some reconstruction issues, but I'm done with chemo (TCH), and I'm almost done with two years of Zoladex. Then I'll have three years of tamoxifen left.



Getting cancer in your twenties has its own set of challenges. One of these for me was that NO one my age was getting treatment at my oncologist's office. Makes it feel kind of lonely. These discussion boards really help you to expect/prepare for treatment side effects, etc. Anyway, treatment can be overwhelming sometimes, but just remember you WILL get through it.

roadwarrior28

Thanks all! I just found out that I'm HER2 negative and do not have the BRAC1/BRAC2 gene, so those are all good news in a sea of bad

Although I only have cancer in one breast, I'm having a double mastectomy in a week. It may seem radical to some - and especially my family - but it always felt like the right choice to me. I want to do everything I can now so that I never have to deal with this again. 

zillamom2

I was 28 when I was diagnosed and I am now 39. I had a 15 mo old son when I found my cancer and then had another baby 2 yrs after my treatment. I just recently did get bc again but docs are not sure if local recurrence or new primary. I had a lumpectomy first time so this time I had a bmx. I can relate to how you feel because I didnt know anyone else my age that was 28 and going through all this. At 39 I still dont know many women going through it. I think when you are young it is good to be aggressive with the treatment and take really good care of yourself including exercise to prevent other health issues from treatment since so young. I am at the beginning stage of osteoporosis and chemo contributes to that. I am too young for that but didnt take care of myself as well as I should of after the first treatment.

msvirgo828

 I was diagnoised when I was 25 in 2003, five years later METS to lung, bones along with a reoccurence and just this week new nodes in my chest lymph nodes and growng in lungs. I'm 34 years old now and still fighting. There are many options out there. Keep your spirtis up and a positive attitude. If you want to cry, cry...and pick yourself back up. This is your journey and your write it. Stay blessed

roadwarrior28

Msvirgo828 - I'm so sorry about what you've been going through. It's tough to battle cancer at any age, but I think for us, since we're so young, it just somehow feels worse, not fair. I wish you the best of luck

roadwarrior28

Has anyone here frozen their eggs or embryos prior to treatment?

Ashlyn

Hi roadwarrior28: I am very sorry to hear about your diagnosis. It is just down right sh*tty to have this happen at our age. I am 28 and was diagnosed in January. I did embryo preservation back in March. I think it is really important to have that as our Plan B should any treatment not allow us to have children afterwards. However, saying that, a lot of women I have talked to who are under 35 say that their periods return after a few years of treatment and they go on to have families down the road. If the option to do the IVF preservation is there for you though I think it is a very smart decision. If you have any questions about it you can PM me if you like. 

roadwarrior28

Thanks Ashley. It's a miracle, but my insurance agreed to cover fertility preservation 100% (!!) so I'm starting that next week.

Ashlyn

Roadwarrior: That is really good news. I hope you are recovering well since surgery. Good luck with the IVF treatments next week.

Wutzherface16

Hey Roadwarrior! I was diagnosed at 24, currently 25, and had my ovarian tissue frozen prior to surgery and treatments.  I feel so good knowing I have that backup, even though my periods have since returned just like they said.  I think you are making a great choice!  That surgery was a breeze, and I hope your recovery amd journey through the rest of your treatments goes quickly and smoothly! We are all here for you should you ever need us

CloserToFine

Hi roadwarrior - I'm new to these boards too, although not so new to BC! I was diagnosed in 2010 at 28, and had a mastectomy and reconstruction with tamoxifen. I didn't do bilateral because of advice from lots of oncologists, who said I could still breastfeed with just one breast if I'm lucky enough to have a baby one day. On a less positive note, they agreed that all the research shows it's not usually a second cancer that occurs in the other breast that really affects how you do long term. These decisions are super personal and different for all of us and I'm so glad you sound comfortable with yours, which makes it exactly right for you! I was very happy with my decision but unfortunately am having a recurrence scare right now on the same side as my original cancer - will know for sure after surgery next Thursday.

So sorry we all have to be on these boards but it's good not to feel alone! 

Ashlyn

Hi CloserToFine: May I ask about your initial surgery? Did you have any lymph nodes removed/involvement? I am very sorry to hear about what you are going through right now with the possible recurrence. I hope all goes well next week for your surgery. I often wonder how it can even come back on a mastectomy side if there is nothing there...chest wall? How did you detect whatever it is that made you need to have a surgery? Sorry to ask so many questions...

CloserToFine

Hi AshleyB - I don't mind at all! Initially I was 2.4cm IDC (mucinous) with 4cm DCIS around it, which is why we chose mastectomy since lumpectomy would have left me with half a boob! I had sentinel node biopsy at time of surgery and all nodes were negative. I had a screening MRI a few weeks ago (18 months after original diagnosis and 12 months after finishing reconstruction) and they saw an enlarged internal mammary node (under the breastbone) on the same side as the original cancer, so I have to have VATS chest surgery this Thursday to take it out. I've also heard of women who have recurred after mastectomy in the chest wall, as well as the axilla or other nodes like internal mammary or above the clavicle. I'm hoping the node is just benign and reactive because of all the reconstructive surgery but we'll see!

Ashlyn

Hi Closertofine... I hope everything goes smoothly for you on Thursday and that it ends up being benign. I have never heard of a VATS and didnt even know we had internal mammary nodes behind the breast bone. What kind of recon did you get? Im assuming tissue expanders.  

I will think of you on Thursday. Keep us posted here.

silverbird

Hi all,

I was diagnosed with bc only 3 weeks ago, and had my lumpectomy done on friday. The frozen section showed no cancer cells in sentinel lymph nodes at the time of surgery but I am still waiting for the final pathology report next week. I am ER+, PR+, HER2 unknown.

Do the oncologists always recommend chemo for young women with bc? I am just so afraid of the side effects of chemo...

MiniMacsMom

Silverbird:  No, I don't think age is an indicator of chemo.  Yes they are more aggressive with us, but I think you still have to be in that "range" for needing chemo.  No bones about it chemo sucks, and the side effects can be pretty scary, but as long as you know what they are they can be monitored as well.  The immediate side effects, nausea hair loss, are not as terrifying as the long term stuff.  At our insurance well visit, I talked to my PCP about the long term effects and he did a very thourough check of my heart and other potential problem areas.  Just make sure all your team knows about the SE... A recent study showed that the vast majority of non oncologists don't know the long term side effects of chemo!!  Be your own best advocate.  Getting on her and reading and researching and interviewing doctors is a great start!

 Did you have any other diagnositc tests.  I had the first four Lymphs involved then 9 clean ones... but cancer can jump around the lymph nodes I had scans post surgery that found additonal lymphs in the intermamarry zone and up the axilla chain.  Its better to be safe than sorry, though a clean sentinal node is a GREAT start!  Hugs!