Diagnosed at 30 and AGAIN at 36. Sooo Scared!

SHERRYSTRONG76

Hi Everyone.

I used to be here quite often in 2007-2008. This place was my rock and kept me going. People couldnt be kinder and more understanding.

I was diagnosed 5 days before my 30th Birthday with I.D.C.     I had Grade 1 Stage 1 Cancer in left breast.  A.C  Chemo  and 33 rounds of Rads.

Nov. 2011 They found 4 masses on opposite breast that were A Typical, and chose to watch them.  7 months later this July, they discovered a mass in my left breast again. This one is Cancer, Grade 2.

Thats all I know for now. I see the Plastic Surgeon and my Breast Surgeon on Thursday, so I guess they plan on Masectomy. See, I was given my results for this one by phone by a nurse, and not too much was told to me except it was I.D.C grade 2, and that I would be getting a Masectomy.

Oh, I forgot. They also said initally that it most likely wouldnt be Invasive becasue it wasnt a MASS.....? They thought at best it would be D.C.I.S because it wasnt mass shaped. Any insight into this???

Im scared.

Sherry

wrsmith2x

WOW, you are young!  I am so sorry you have to go through this AGAIN!  If you did a lumpectomy the first time then mastectomy will be the treatment of choice.  I opted for a BMX (prophylatic mastectomy on my left breast) and immediate reconstruction.  It went well for me.  

You didn't say anything about hormone negative or positive or nodes negative or positive.  Six years is a long time between breast cancers but it can happen.  

The only thing I can tell you is you can be cancer free again and I pray that you will be.  Hit it hard!  Courage to you!  Namaste'. 

HLB

Hi Sherry, So sorry to hear this but I agree you can definitely be free of this again. I also had a bilateral mastectomy with expanders then implants. It sucks to think about it but after it was done I was totally happy with the results and happy to not have to worry about surveilance of the breasts, since mammo did not find my cancer. Unfortunately here I am again seven years later so I am sort of biased and think everyone should have BMX. Good luck to you. You did it before....you know you can do it again!

SHERRYSTRONG76

Thanks for the posts. HLB, how is it that you were stage 2, had a mascetomy, then stage 4? So I can have both breasts removed and still get Cancer?????? Also, whats BMX? thanks!

Esmerelda

Hi Sherrystrong76 - I'm sure HLB will chime in and share her story but in the meantime... BMX means bilateral mastectomy. Having a mastectomy drastically reduces your chances of having a local recurrance (i.e. in the breast tissue) - because almost all of your breast tissue is gone. I say almost because there remains maybe 1 - 3% of breast tissue and a person could get cancer in the tiny remnants of breast tissue left. 

A person could have a BMX and wind up stage 4 because the cancer might have already traveled through the lymphatic or vascular system and metasticized.

In any case, its good to know your medical team has followed you so closely. My mom had DCIS and had a mastectomy because it was so spread out and would not have left her with much of a breast if she had a lumpectomy. Her reconstruction is incredible, by the way.

I know the waiting time is horrible. Hang in there. There are a ton of supportive women on here who can offer their own similar experiences! (((((((hugs))))))) 

brst26

Hi Sherrystrong76. So sorry you were diagnosed a second time too. I am a youngster like you. First diagnosis at 26...second one at 31. I just had my BMX on 3/28/12 and got my permanent implants on 7/25/12. I hope you are doing well! Hang in there.

SHERRYSTRONG76

Well, Im 7 days out of my Double Mascetomy! Im still in alot of pain and a bit nervous about twinges and burning sensations and tightning of the chest and so on, but I did it. I was beyond afraid but I couldnt back out! Tomorrow morning I see my Dr. to check everything out, get my Path. Reports and see what Stage I'm in. Im a bit nervous about that too, but Im sure thats a given.

Some days I feel like I have the Flu and just wanna cry, and some times I feel normal again. I know with time it will get better! Thanks to everyone who responded!

LeapFrog39

Praying for you, Sherry. 

KeepingFaith69

Sending you ngentle hugs Sherry.  I pray that the pain has abated and you feel better by the milisecond.