Calling all ladies in their 20's

i think the iud's are ok, as long as they are the one's that don't emit estrogen, unless you are er/pr- then it wouldn't matter.

I am wondering about other options too.  I did a little looking online by typing in "non-hormonal birth control."  I plan to talk to my gyno on my next visit about other b.c. methods and the fact that post-chemo sex is NOT comfortable for me.  So far what I've found online is mainly some form of barrier (condom, diaphram, sponge) and spermicide--they suggest to use the barrier and spermicide together.  I did find copper non-hormone IUD's, but I very much hope to have a child someday and they can impact fertility in some cases and I don't really want to add any more potential obstacles to fertility.  Chemopause & 5 yrs. on Tamoxifen are enough.

I think we all join you on that roller coaster, and we all have the days/weeks where we feel like we are falling and everything around us is moving so fast, yet we can't take in any of our surroundings because we are scared and our breath is taken away...so sorry that is something we have to share.  I hope that your rollercoaster starts going up again soon and then maybe starts leveling off with smaller ups and downs--like the kiddy roller coaster!

 Here is a link to IUD's, they also have descriptions of other birth control methods.

http://www.womenshealthmatters.ca/centres/sex/birthcontrol/iud.html

I'm not sure that a doc. would put an IUD in a person undergoing chemo because of the risk of infection and that it says people who have "weakened immunity" should not use it.

Nannababy - Why did they recommend more chemo for you? Honestly, since chemo has been over for me, I just want more! I'm so worried that what I got didn't work. 

I am starting rads next week...getting my tattoos in two days. I just want to get through this and hear the words: you're cancer-free.

Hope everyone's week is looking up!

With us younger ladies it takes longer--that estrogen is pumping strong and resists shutting down.  I had 2 regular cycles during chemo and then they stopped & haven't returned yet.  I finished chemo at the end of Oct.  Since I'm ER+ it was actually a relief to my doctors that I finally stopped ovulating, and I am suppossed to call if/when my cycle returns and they will chemically put me back into menopause---they don't want me ovulating right now.  They said they want to keep me in menopause at least for the 5 years I'm on Tamoxifen, then give me a break to attempt to have kids, and then re-evaluate after that.

How is your treatment going so far?  Still have energy to enjoy those beautiful daughters?  I hope you have lots of support and hep at home.

HI Ladies

Haven't visited the site for quite some time and just saw this post. I was first diagnosed in November 2009 at the age of 24. I had a double mastectomy that December the 8th. Cancer was again diagnosed in October 2010 and I am currently on FAC chemotherapy. I still have 4 sessions left and my next session is this coming Sunday. 

My mom was also diagnosed in October 2010 with Breast Cancer Stage l with ER+/PR+ HER- cancer. She had her right breast removed in December and had her first dose of FAC today. I have been handling my chemo pretty well except for the nausea and tiredness but since my last dose I have been unable to keep food in. Losing weight very fast now and soooo hungry. Drinking one small can of V8 during the day and half a serving of meal replacement. That's about all I can stomach. 

Feeling really sad for my mom having to go through this especially as I live 8 hours flight away from her. Just think that life is way too unfair, but trying to be an example for her that in the end, it's all about the attitude. 

Good luck to all of you

very doped up so apokigize if the post makes no sense lol-
nana sorry to hear more chemo for you, we'll be here every step of the way. There is some triple negative trials in the works involving aresnic my dh has more info on that...
iud- it was my understanding that you HAD to have cbildren before getting one- because of the size issue... I have used cervical caps with spermacide effective but messy!
i am in the hosptal now the nosise is bothersome lol i can hear someone in another room moaning- sorta like a dog does in their sleep... I think she might just ne in pain...
anyhow i will get on line when i have a cleaer mind

YKYACPW  you go to the store to buy makings for salad. you get home, make salad. put it in bowl, put it in front of tv where you are going to eat it, go back to kitchen to get fork, then "remember" you "forgot" tomatoes for the salad. get coat on, cause you have to have tomatoes in a darn salad, getting ready to go to the store to buy a tomato. walk by salad sitting on coffee table. guess what? there are tomatoes right on top of it!

DAMN YOU CHEMO BRAIN!!!!

HDangelbaby,

Too funny!  I have a relative that is in her late 40's that is also going through treatments for lung cancer.  Her husband was talking to my mom and told her that his wife was already having "senior moments."  She promptly told him that, oh no, her daughter has those too, and its called chemo-brain!

By the way I have been to the grocery store every day for the last 4 days b/c I forgot something or needed to pick up a prescrip.  Hopefully I don't need to go tomorrow...I think us Michiganders will be snowed in!

Hi everyone,

I am so happy to have found this post because it has made me realize that there are actually people my age going through something similar as me.  I feel very alone. I am 28 years old (soon to be 29) and I was diagnosed with Stage 3 IDC.

I just wanted to thank you Dianne for sharing your journey because although two cancers are never the same it seems that our journies may share some similarities.

Everyones posts on here have brightened my sad say and I hope that I am half as strong as all of you through this journey.  I started with DD ACT chemo on Dec. 1 and just had my first taxol which was not a good experience at all.  I am hoping that the second round of treatment goes a little better.

I had my first of 8 weekly taxols on tuesday. alot better so far than the DD AC! I haven't had any nausea, thank god! Just pounding headaches which I can deal with. How are all doing?

bimmer, this is the perfect thread for us younger gals going through this. I truly thought I was alone in this fight until I found this thread. I live in a small town, and I feel like I'm the only one here who isn't in her 50's or 60's! this thread makes it easier to deal. there just are things us younger women deal with that older women don't. i hope no one takes offense to that. It just is the way it is. we are at a different point in our lives.

texasrose, i wish you a speedy recovery!!!

nannababy, i am sorry you need more chemo, but remember, we have youth on our side, and we bounce back quick! i keep you in my thoughts!

TexasRose- Hang in there...don't rush moving around if you're not up to it. Trust me...I tried to be the superhero for a while and I learned my lesson. About the bi-lat..I had mine in Dec and am still numb under my right armpit. It has gotten "slightly" better, but I'm pretty much resigned to guessing how much deodorant I'm using on that side. I could be wrong, but I don't believe I will regain feeling in that area...nerves are cut/damaged during the operation and they are just a casualty of this war.

nanna, the only ones are the premeds for the taxol, (steroids, and benadryl), and the weekly taxol itself. i did have my monthly ovarian suppression shot tuesday too though. i bet that's the cause of the headaches

Kita

OMG! I felt like I was reading my own thoughts out loud when I read your post. I was 24 when I was diagnosed and had a bilat mastectomy before my 25th b-day. Grad school plans were put on the backburner and now I'm back home receiving treatment. But this past week just threw me for a spin when I realized that I should have had my menstrual cycle...and nothing happened. I don't have children so I'm praying, and praying, and praying that I will be like some women whose cycles resume. I'm doing the A/C now and will start Taxol in about a month. How has the Taxol been for you??