Under 30 & would like to connect

((((foxxi))))

this sucks! I was diagnosed at 29, 3 years ago, and i'm 32 now.  Totally here for support and venting..anything.  Sorry for the bad news.  believe it or not, things do get better.

LittleFlower

I was diagnosed when I was 26, almost 5 years ago. I know the beginning is crazy, but you've found a great group of sisters here to help you through.

Chin up!

Hi Everyone,

I just turned 31 and was just diagnosed 3 weeks ago. Lots of unknowns right now as I am waiting on genetic testing results to find out treatment plan and hopefully schedule surgery.

So many tough decisions to make in few days. It is so nice to have people to talk to and get tons of info from. Thanks Ladies!

foxxi,

Breast Cancer was the last thing on my mind!!!! Even when I was sitting in my surgeons waiting room waiting to get my diagnosis I was still not even thinking BC. You could have imagined my reaction when the first sentence out of his mouth was"its malignant."

I went to my old family doctor when my lump was about the size of an almond. I was told to keep an eye on it.And I was waaaay too young for BC.Well 7 months later it grew to 8cm, and I knew something wasn't right.Went back...lady da...you know the rest....

hey everyone i have to say i have not been told what iis wrong yet still waiting appoiment i have all ready hit the wall with my doc he says i am two young to have any thing like bc but reading your stories i know that not true i am 29 when i did go to him with a lump that was getting bigger on my ribs above the breast he wrote me off when back again after a while the lump twice the size now still no prop breast exam but he did refer me on as i told him to but i just had this felling there was something eles happening so i went to a women doc who found a 2 cm x 2 cm lump in my breast (noi axillary or supraclavicular )does any one know what that means

Hi Foxxi,

I'm 27 and was just diagnosed this past Tuesday with DCIS. My mom and four of her sisters have had breast cancer (my mom at 30) so we have a pretty strong family history. I'm struggling right now with whether to have a lumpectomy with radiation or a mastectomy.  It's really hard.

What is your diagnosis?

Snuzie are you doing genetic testing? You may want to check out www.facingourrisk.org to get some good info and insight about making decisions with a strong family history.

Everyone struggles with decisions in the beginning-- it's so rushed, and there's so much to weigh out.

I started with a lumpectomy, b/c at that point the thought of losing my breast terrified me. But, as time went on and I was in the middle of chemo, I changed the way I thought- for a zillion reasons that I will only get into if you want to know-- (keep in mind at the end of the day you have to do whats best for you and only you). After chemo I had bilateral masts with immediate reconstruction, and then I did the yr of herceptin. I got to skip rads b/c I had the masts.

Just know that if you choose to have a lumpectomy, and later down the road you question things, you have options... don't beat yourself up about making tough choices, when there's no right or wrong....

Snuzie it's a lot of info to take in, and digest, and then decide how to move forward.

I will share my perspective, and what my thought process was-- but take it as just that... it's what worked for me, and that doesn't mean it's right for you.

I started with a lumpectomy. I was terrified of losing my breast. During chemo, I started thinking about a lot of things. First, the lumpectomy left my breast almost an entire cup size smaller then the healthy breast. Chemo wasn't a walk in the park, but I totally did not want to do radiation, and obviously, with the lumpectomy, that was part of the plan. I thought about the way I am... like how would I feel when I would constantly be feeling my breast for lumps, and how would I handle the follow up mammos and tests. I thought about my age, and how long of a life I have left to live, and what would be a good decision for me in the long run.

Then I thought about the flip side. Okay, so I skip rads, but I lose my breasts. I get cancer free new ones, but I can't breast feed. I never need a mammo again, but what will I look like naked?

I weighed out all the pros and cons, and after chemo I had bilateral skin sparing masts and immediate reconstruction, and no radiation- then I did my year of herceptin.

For me it was the best thing I ever did-- there's no cure. There's no guarantee that cancer won't come back elsewhere. But the benefits have been great too. I love my breasts. I love them like they were the originals. For me, it was what worked. I took the time to make the decision, read and got educated on the best options for me, and never regretted any of it.

Reconstruction after radiation isn't as bad as it was years ago... however, it depends on what type of recon you want, and are a candidate for. I know-- its a lot of info....

you should def. check out the FORCE site-- there is great info there too.

I'm 29 now, diagnosed at 25 but knew there was a lump at 24.  No family history and thought I was the only one under 30.  I've been reading all the forums for the last six hours and although saddened by the amounts of people effected, am somewhat relieved to know that there are people out there like me and that I am not alone...

leonor we're neighbors-- where in LI are you???

Another amazing site is www.youngsurvival.org I know when I was first dx, I had a hard time finding other young women to connect with. When I joined YSC, it was like a sorority of young breast cancer survivors. They have an amazing conference every February, and it's incredible to be surrounded by 1000 other young BC patients/survivors and their caregivers/friends/family.

Hi,

I'm a man of 31, diagnosed with BC 6 months ago. Since I'm BRCA2, I had a BM 3 weeks ago. I have two young children and trying now to go back to my normal life.

Take care,

Chris

Hi Everyone, I was diagnosed this last January with ILC. I am 37, I know this thread is for under 30 but there are so few people that are under 50 and diagnosed with ILC. After reading all these posts, I connect much better to you all. I have a 7 year old little boy, who is old enough to know what is going on, and is very scared. I am halfway through chemo (AC-T). I had a bi-lateral mastectomy. I am very nervous to have expanders put in. Who has had it done, and how are they? I hear they are quite painful, but I really want boobs again.

Heeeey all...

This might sound bad, but I'm so happy to know there are other woman out there that's going through breast cancer at such a young age and knows what I'm going through too. Sometimes it feels like I'm the only person at 27 that has breast cancer!!!

Hi by the way, I'm Elaine. I'm 27 years old. I found a lump last August, went to my GP and she told me I was too young for breast cancer, not to worry about it and she put me on a waiting list for the hospital to be seen by a breast surgeon. So thought nothing of it. Was seen 2 months later anyway, eventually, and they did an ultrasound, although nothing showed up, even though you could very clearly feel the lump and they didn't do a mammogram because I was "too young". Anyway, had a core biopsy done in January and was diagnosed this February (6 months after I had gone to see GP) with stage 3, grade 3 ER positive breast cancer. My tumor had grown from a little lump to a 7cm lump in 6 months which had spread to the lymph nodes and trying to wriggle it's way further so they started me straight away on chemo first to shrink it before doing surgery. Have gone through 14 weeks of chemo already and my tumor has shrunk so much that the oncologist can't even feel it anymore. YAY! So I find out my surgery date in 2 weeks. Apparently then I need more chemo and radiation. Also on Zoladex and probably will be starting on tamoxafin soon too.

Its been a very hard, difficult and stressful time, and it's a bummer that I'm 27 and bald, with no eyelashes and about to have my breast removed (and have to delay reconstruction for 12 months because of radiotherapy) but I have kept a positive attitude and a big smile on my face through all this so far regardless   And I've met some really awesome cancer patients and cancer survivors over the last few months and kept in touch.

Tip on chemo by the way, if you're given an option to get a portacath... TAKE IT! It's the best thing I've ever done.

Keep smiling girls

....Hope is contagious

Hi Jamie,

I am so sorry to hear of your diagnosis. I also have ILC. Stage 11A. Although I am 37 and have a seven year old,I share your pain and fear. I have looked for ILC survivors past 20 years, and can't seem to find any. But, there are many factors that effect that. First, most people diagnosed with ILC, are 60 or older, so finding someone that has had ILC for more thatn 20 years makes it harder. Also, treatments have changed so much in the past 20 years. Right before I started chemo, I had that frightening talk with my oncologist about my survival rate, so that is where you should start. What is your chemo treatment going to be? I have a very good friend who I have met at chemo. She was 25 when she was diagnosed. She also found her lump 6 months earlier and was denied a mamogram because of her age and no family history. I hope to hear back from you, It helps to have someone who has recently been through it all.

Take care of yourself! 

Crystal Dean

Just thougth I'd say hello!!! I was just diagnosed in March of this year. Only 1 Grandma with b/c in our family, don't know any of her details as it was about 15-20 years ago. She had a mastectomy and is doing great still! I am BRCA1+ so I am choosing the prophylactic mastectomy and ovary removal. Surgery will probably be middle to end of Septemeber. Reconstruction won't be until next year some time as I will have radiation after surgery.I had 4 A/C treatments, and 12 Taxol. My last treatment is next Thursday, assuming the follow up CT scan is still clear!!!