New to the boards.....

melindademille

Hello, I was 24 when diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer a month after having a miscarriage with my first pregnacy. My husband and I just got married not even a year before all this. Talk about a huge test of commitment. I went into my diagnosis and treatments in denial. My husband, my mom and my 2 younger sisters have been my support system. I never really listened to the doctor. I believed I was estrogen negative at the diagnosis. I went for genetic testing because of my age. I am Brca1 positive and happilly can say mom and sisters are clear. Flew through aggressive chemotherapy. Wasn't too bad for me. I handled it really well. 6 months into chemo, went for my surgery decided to remove both breasts. Finished with 25 doses of radiation. Was suppose to go on tamoxin pill for 5 years but decided, to hold off for a lil while. Still confused why id be placed on that drug if im estrogen negative, but now my oncologist is saying im estrogen low....huh?! didn't realize there was a middle.  Now I am 4 months cancer free and faced with another life challenging decision. Because of my age and the doctor placed me on Zoladex injections to make me menopausal during treatments, I will go through menopause much much younger than other women. I was told it could be weeks, months, or years from now. There are no tests they can do to tell me how long I will have before permanent menopause kicks in, because the chemo has hurt my eggs and ovarian function. Yay, thus my reason for not taking the tamoxin drug just yet. I want to start our family and put this behind me. Am I wrong for saying no to the Tamoxin drug? Anyone else young like myself going through similar situations? Anyone been on Zoladex and still nonmenopausal?

Kathleen26

I saw this about a week ago, and thought it might help you:

http://www.hopkinsbreastcenter.org/artemis/201204/3.html

You have a difficult situation, and there are decisions only you (and your husband) can make.  There are certainly women who are able to not only achieve normal menstrual cycles after Zoladex, but become pregnant after chemo/Zoladex.  Whether you want to risk it or not is another whole story, but there are women who have done it, and lived to tell the tale. 

The percentage of estrogen receptors in a tumor can vary; anything more than I think 10% is considered estrogen positive.   You may very well have been on the low end.  Sometimes the initial pathology may come out on the very low end, but later they find it was actually higher.   All of this should be documented in your pathology report, which you should keep a copy of.

I wish you the best of luck and hope you and your husband are able to make a decision you can live with.

Bugs

Melinda, I am so sorry to see you here.  I'm glad you found us, but really?  24 at dx is way past wrong.  

I have heard that more and more dr's are using antihormonals even on low estrogen positive cancers. The side effects for me on Tamox were minimal.  A few aches and pains, but all in all a tolerable drug.  Let us know what you decide. 

Take care! 

jennyboog

Welcome Melinda,  I'm sorry we had to meet this way.  This is a wonderful site that has loads on info and support...it got me through some rough days.  I agree 24 is just not fair, I'm glad you had a supportive family and got through tx so well.  I was 34 at dx and had kids but I was asked before chemo if I wanted to freeze my eggs for more children in the future.  They didn't offer you this?  I don't understand why if they didn't.  I'm BRCA1+ also and I'm the first in my family to have BC, which I'm happy about but it left me feeling confused too.  I didn't do Zoladex but something similar until I had my ovaries removed.  I don't think your wrong for saying no to Tamoxifen. you have do what you feel is right and that is something only you and your husband can decide.  It is another line in defense for us though and I've heard of them using it for mildly ER+.  I may be wrong but I thought Zoladex and Tamoxifen were similar in their function.  There is a 20's forum  and you may find some answers there also.  The ladies are your age and may be in very similar situations.  I hope you come here often, let us know how things go.