How old were you?

Cyl52-2005Feb28 · July 2005

I was 49 when I was diagnosed with cancer in Oct. 2001. My birthday was the following month. My treatments ended in May 2002. I had invasive ductal carcinoma in my left breast. I am doing well though I do have lymphedema on my left side which has been a real problem.

susanlynn9 · July 2005

I'm 40 and still pretty new to the journey. Start AC/T chemo on Monday (8/1) and then Tamoxifen for 5 years.

JoannePR · July 2005

....one week before my 50th birthday....had the party anyway!

HERO

KathyBee · July 2005

Dx'ed October 27, 2004 IDC, DCIS, Right breast,some microcalicfications, 9 of 14 nodes positive, no vascular involvement, I said left breast in another post, must be losing my sense of direction. MRM Jan.21, 2005, due to problems with original surgeon relocating. Drains stayed for 5 weeks, so didn't start chemo until March 16th 4 dose dense A/C, now on Taxol weekly, finished 7th yesterday. Rads to follow. Hope to be finished by Thanksgiving. Was 61 at Dx turned 62 in May and hope to turn 82 and still be computing! The older ladies who don't have one of these things don't know what they're missing!

Kathy

saraelizabeth · July 2005

Diagnosed when I was 30 . . . was in having a core biopsy the day before my 31st b-day. Strange - never thought I'd be doing that in my life especially not before I figured out what life was all about!
Had a mastectomy, followed by A/C and Taxol/Herceptin, rads, and am now taking Tamoxifen. At first it was like a slap in the face that almost made me feel like I suddenly had a clearer purpose. Now, almost 1 year later I am really struggling. I expect to feel back to 100% after being out of chemo and rads now, but can barely manage the 8 hours at work and then I am DONE. My relationships are suffering, I worry if I will ever feel the same passion and eagerness to do things that I once did. I feel let down by my boyfriend and some of my friends, b/c they are always out and about and I feel completely out of the loop. Sometimes I think I am lucky to be young and healthy. Other times I look at it like there are just that many years for it to come back in some form.

I don't feel any closer to knowing what the purpose/meaning of life is . . .

Tawyna-2005Mar17 · July 2005

Javalena, my mom was diagnosed a yr ago. she still gets tired easy. it will get better. me and mom felt let down by some of our family. the day will come when you feel back in the loop again.

KarenNO · July 2005

50

Calico · July 2005

41 years old, dx o6/15/05 with DCIS, no clear margins yet and several areas of microcalcifications in breast that need to be investigated, probably going for mast out of fear.

juniquilt · July 2005

Hi Javelena, I can understand how you feel even though I'm almost twice your age, and I'm sorry you have to deal with this at 31. Just remember that because of your young age, not only are you healthy & strong, but you will benefit from new treatments as they come along.
It was a year 7/16 since my dx and I still feel tired some days, but other days I have plenty of energy. What helps me is to try and do something fun (for me) every day. Good luck on your journey and come here when you need to "talk". Nobody understands better than us.
Hugs,
Juni

EastsideFan · July 2005

Hi Tawyna - Sorry I sort of disappeared and didn't see your question.

At 22, I did a lumpectomy and radiation, and my chemo was CMFVP, which I understand they don't do too often any more (cytozan, methotrexate, 5-FU, vincristine and prednisone). The vincristine has some side effects they don't like, and my onc thinks the overall effectiveness of that regimen wasn't that good. I told her it gave me 15 years, so I couldn't complain. It was a 6 month regimen, cytoxan daily by mouth, the others by IV once a week (vincristine and prednisone only for the first couple of months or so, don't remember exactly). This time I'm doing AC, just started a week ago, 4 treatments, 3 weeks apart. The nausea drugs this time around so awesome, they didn't have them last time.

Oh, for what it's worth, my onc doesn't consider the current cancer to be a recurrence, she says they are both new cancers, even though they are on the same side. Mastectomy this time, no radiation.

And I'm doing good, tired but good, thanks!

SharonA

Tawyna-2005Mar17 · July 2005

SharonA, you are definetly a survivor...

JulieW · August 2005

My fiancé found my lump back in Nov./Dec. 2004, but I blew it off thinking, "Women my age don't get breast cancer! Probably a cyst, and they'll catch it at my annual next July."

Nyuck nyuck nyuck. I was 28 when he first found it, but he found it again on May 23rd. May 24th, I saw my ob/gyn and she recommended I have an ultrasound and a needle biopsy.

On May 25th, my 29th birthday, I spent the day at the hospital getting said ultrasound and biopsy, and June 1st, I was told it was "cancerous."

Monika2005 · August 2005

I am 33 yrs old. I found lump myself even though I had just had my annual PAP & breast exam at the doctor's office 2 mos prior. Just diagnosed May '05. Had both, stage II invasive IDC & ILC with positive nodes, also BRCA2 positive. Just underwent bilateral mast on July 27th. I get my port installed next wk and then will be starting 6 mos of chemo...

Take care,
Monika

stitcher · August 2005

Haven't read all the posts, but I must be the old broad here! Diagnosed on routine mammo in May age 67; lumpectomy end of June. ILC, tumor 1.5cm, nodes negative, ER/Pr +, HER-, will have second AC next week, then 6 weeks of radiation, then drugs for five years (not sure which one). My oncologist talks in terms of 15 year survival--that's a hoot! I had a hip done the second time last summer, the other one done in February, and just feeling normal again when this came up. Oh, well.

Liz

susan_02143 · August 2005

I was 46 on June 13, 2005 when I was diagnosed. Found the lump mystelf after a month where my right breast had pain.

Invasive Ductal, stage IIa, clean nodes, partial masectomy done, start chemo in September, then 35 rads.

Chemo will be 4-dose dense A/C. They are dropping the Taxol due to neuropothy. Long term will be aromotexe inhibitors, a word I clearly need to learn to spell!

Jarnecic · August 2005

44. DCIS found on routine mammogram March 05. Biopsy April 05 showed cancerous. Stage 0, not invasive, but high grade. Sentinel node negative. Lumpectomy June 05, plus re-excision July 05. Fighting a nasty infection after the 2nd surgery. Waiting to heal to start radiation. Seeing all the young ages doesn't make me feel so alone.

nana2thegrls · August 2005

I was 2 days short of being 52 years old...diagnosed 11/17/03.. I had the lump for a couple years before I went.... My Mom died of breast cancer in 1992... I know I know!!!Just didnt want to deal with it I guess...Had bi-lateral in Jan 2004...4 A/C and now on tomaxifin..

motherof4dx42105 · August 2005

I was 36.

mspooter · August 2005

hi joyceanne, just found out i had infiltrating ductal carcinoma in july at age 49. first tx 8/30. looking forward to getting it started and over with.

Silkyboots · August 2005

I was 38 when I got my DX,grade 3 Metastatic breast cancer,HER2 ++,Mastectomy followed by(fec) chemo,new tumour on mast site,taxoter & Cisplatin,tumour carried on growing,now on Herceptin once a week and 2 weeks into 7 weeks of Rads...

Still smiling !

Love and hugs Sue
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

LindaC · August 2005

I am 31. Just dx on 8/10. I live in Northeast PA-I think it's something in the water here. Everybody has cancer here. I think it's time to head outta Dodge.

Pegk · August 2005

I am 53 and I've always been very healthy until ...this. I'd never had surgery until my mastectomy and reconstruction in July. I haven't even experienced menopause, yet. I guess that's going to change. Chemo starts in a couple of weeks.
Peggy

Yorkie · August 2005

I am going through treatment now--I'm 54. I had DCIS in the other breast in 1998, and have been faithful about yearly mammograms ever since. It's actually a blessing that this wasn't discovered last year--we were hosting and doing the paperwork to adopt our now-16-year-old Russian daughter. Had this been seen last summer, either I'd have been too busy with treatment or the authorities would never have let us adopt. I'm just thankful it didn't get any further.

Linda

Lynne · August 2005

I am 43 and the lump was found on a routine mammogram in April. Had core needle biopsy May, and lumpectomy and sential node biopsy in June (IDC, 1.5cm, clear margine,1 node negative,ER and PR positve). I then decided to take the Oncotype Dx gentic test and that came back with a score of 12 (8% chance of recurrence). Opted out of chemo and am now in radiation (7 down 26 treatments to go).

Good luck to all of you!

Lynne

lynn717 · August 2005

49 when diagnosed 10/04
mastectomy 4 A/C nodes neg so no rads

SoapMaker · August 2005

I was diagnosed in August, 2002, at the age of 51.

------------------------------------------------------
WHERE IS THE CURE???
www.truefacesofbreastcancer.org

auntmooshka · August 2005

I was 34 when I was diagnosed on May 24, 2004.

jhallinan · August 2005

What I find really strange about our replies is how often the diagnosis came right around a birthday. I was diagnosed three days before my 44rd birthday and had dinner with a friend who traveled with me at a restaurant outside of the Mayo Clinic. It will make my one year anniversary this year especially poignant as it points directly towards a new year with my birthday.

JoyousATL

TeaLoverDenise · August 2005

50 years old, 4 weeks shy of my 51st birthday.

shorfi · August 2005

49 years old, 21 days before turning 50 years old. What is up with that?

How old were you?

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