Calling all ladies in their 20's

hi everyone!! im 27 and was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer in july 2011. im single but do want kids someday when i meet the right guy!

fertility preservation was discussed before treatment but the fact that doing it would delay the start of chemo about a month was something i couldnt deal with. it was a very hard decision but i heeded the words of my onc who said because im young my periods should return eventually so i thought its better to get the cancer killed and then think about children after ive finished treatment and my period returns. finished chemo in jan 2012 and just last week finished 25 rads

It was kind of an weird moment since we had been warned by docs before hand, but the chemo nurse actually came in our room one day and was like, "oh... by the way, you need to be using condoms because you can still get pregnant on chemo even if you aren't getting your period."  Obviously we are being careful, but my hubby and I just kind of laughed because she was so uncomfortable about it   I think the statistics were pretty heavily in our favor (premen.) women getting preggers post chemo.  They also just released a study comparing 300+ women who got pregnant after chemo to ones who didn't and there was no statistical significance for increased re-occurance for women who are NED who get pregnant.  They also said hormonal status didn't make a difference. They only studied to the 5 year mark, but that was still somewhat comforting! 

I've heard icing your hands and feet before and after chemo helps with the nail loss and neuropathy. You may also want to ask your ONC about vitamins.

Sorry I havent been on been really sick this week, chemo kicked my butt this time but at least Im halfway through only 3 more to go yay!!! Hope all of you are doing well Im praying for you all!!

Just want to say Happy Easter to all of you!! Hope you all had a good a day as I did, God blessed me with a great weekend and I couldnt ask for any thing more! I pray you all are doing well!! ((HUGS)) to all my sisters!

hey girls

I met my doctor today n he told me tht he ll do a mastectomy i went out cryin frm his office i dnt want to lose my breast he told if i were his daughter he  ll choose a mastectomy fr me n tht my life will be at risk if  i do a lumpectomy  Please I need ur support n advice :'''''((((

Rosaa: Im sorry to hear that I know its hard I had a double mx with expanders put in right away! It was hard the 1st time I seen myself in a mirror but I just kept reminding myself that I did what I needed to do to make sure all the cancer was gone so that I could live a longer life! I promise you it gets easier to deal with and you do have the option of reconstruction. My prayers go out to you ((HUGS))!!

Melanie Ann - Thanks for sharing the story about the woman with the molar pregnancy. I had chemo for that too and had two drugs, methotrexate and actinomycin-d. The methotrexate was pretty light, but the actinomycin-d to me was like AC. The molar pregnancy experience was very different for me than the breast cancer. I'd say it was much more emotional than the breast cancer, but breast cancer is much more physically draining. Of course, I think it's all cumulative and I didn't get much of a break after the molar before the cancer diagnosis (not even 2 months). I was wondering if you got your period back?

Nanna - Yay for scheduling your surgery!

Rosaa - I don't know what to say about the mastectomy, but the first surgeon I saw only mentioned a double mastectomy and didn't even talk lumpectomy. It wasn't until I saw another surgeon that I realized that I still had a choice. Everyone is different and a mastectomy could ultimately be the best decision for you (I ended up choosing a single mastectomy and I'm confident that was the right choice for me), but it's important to know if your doctor is recommending a mastectomy and saying lumpectomy is NOT an option or if they are just strongly urging the mastectomy, but lumpectomy IS still an option. In the end, if you have the choice, it's a personal one. I've been told by others who had lumpectomies that your breast never feels the same after radiation and can be kind of lumpy from that. I've also been told that after radiation, it may not be possible to breast feed on the radiated breast. For me, it was right to get a mastectomy because I was able to avoid radiation (no lymph involvement and good margins). Otherwise, I might have gone for the lumpectomy. It's important to remember that both options have the same survival outcomes. If your tumor is so large that a lumpectomy would end up being a partial mastectomy, then that may be a factor in your doctor's recommendation. It's important to know WHY they are recommending it, so you can make the best decision for yourself. 

Sarah - Welcome. I'm guessing you're almost halfway through the chemo.You will be done before you know it!

Melp - Welcome to you too. We did fertility preservation before chemo, but I know it's not possible for everyone (financial or time constraints, etc). Our chances of getting pregnant after chemo are still pretty good, though chemo does take us to menopause sooner than we would otherwise be. Still, the research for pregnancy after breast cancer is still encouraging, so your chances are still pretty good. 

Amanda - I'm sorry to read about your fever. I was fortunate enough to not have to experience that one. 

MMM - How are you doing? Are you done with chemo?

Ladies - For those wondering how long it takes for your periods to come back, I have been told usually by 6 months but almost all will have it back within a year (if it's coming back). Mine came back 3 1/2 months after my last treatment. I'm now 6 1/2 months out from my last treatment, I'm on Tamoxifen, and my hair is growing back. It's about 1 1/2 inches. It grew in quickly at first, but appears to have slowed down. I can't believe it's time for a mini-haircut! I'll try posting a picture soon.

MMM - Congrats on your final treatment! It's a huge milestone! And you MADE IT! Just look at that little boy of yours and you will make it though this last one. What's next for you? Will you have radiation? I was fortunate not to need it (negative nodes and I chose a mastectomy), but I have heard it's different for everyone though for most I've talked to it's less taxing than chemo. Thinking of you as you go through your last treatment. Please keep us posted!

 And thanks for the congrats on finishing the boobies. Well, it's just the one, but it's looking more like the "natural" one now! 

 I'm really just thankful to me alive and cancer free 1 year later. It's amazing how fast this year has flown. I was told this whole process would take a year, but I didn't believe it. I guess they were right. I feel in some way that a year has been taken from my life, and some ways, it feels like more because we should have been having children right now, and that is now on hold. Still, I can appreciate the things I never stopped to appreciate before, so some good has come of all of this as well. 

 To those of you still going through chemo, there is life beyond BC. It may not be as we picture it, but it's there. Hang in there. I feel so thankful to have had this group. 

Melanie_Ann - Your period may be just around the corner. I also felt it was coming back in the weeks before it actually did. I know others who experienced the same. Also, if you're on Tamoxifen, your cycles can be out of wack just from that, so I agree it's probably nothing to worry about. If you do want another opinion, I would go to a fertility specialist or an OBGYN since they are the experts in that. I found that oncologists have a general understanding, but fertility is not their focus, so seeing someone where it is their focus makes the most sense. And going to a fertility specialist doesn't have to mean that you are trying to get pregnant or anything. It's just that they know just want to look for. Best of luck. In the meantime, you can save on pads/tampons lol.

So I'm just curious. How long is your hair now? Mine got just long enough in the back to require a mini-trim this past weekend. We left the top alone, but she trimmed the sides and the back. With proper gel/mousse, it looks like I chose this hairstyle. I'm looking forward to not needing any hair product, but I'm sure that'll take a while!

Rosaa- How are you doing? Have you made any decisions? As Melanie_Ann said, it's a personal decision and getting a 2nd opinion if you're unsure would be helpful.

hi all..

I'm in university studying dance. we have to do a project and i'm doing it on making girls more breast aware. I understand what your going through as i have seen it all before with family.

As i need to make a scrapbook to show my process of the project, i was wondering if anyone could send me any quotes in how they feel? If you have any advice to young girls who are going through the experience? or any quote that you think that will help me in my quotes page. the more the better.

This will be kept confidental and no-one will know who has written the quotes as names wont be attached to the quotes.

Thanks for all your help, look forward to your replies lynsey xxxx

Amanda - It will feel really good when you have those last chemo cycles out of the way! I was fortunate enough not to need radiation, but have talked to many women who have and I've been told by most that chemo was the hardest for them. Hopefully it will be the same case for you and that radiation isn't too bad.

Kisxxoo - How are you feeling with the expanders and post mastectomy? I remember that even little thing such as pulling up my underwear after going to the bathroom were bothersome. And sleeping at night was really difficult! As for your period, it can take a while to come back. Mine came back pretty quickly and even still it was nearly 4 months after my last chemo treatment (and I'm on Tamoxifen too). Give it time. My fertility specialist said upwards of a year, but a good number of people get it back within 6 months. Oh, and when your period comes back, beware, because it comes back with a vengeance!

Hi birdgirl (Laura).  Welcome to the forums.  I am 28 and was diagnosed last October and am a BRCA1 carrier as well.  How much chemo do you have left?  I had a BMX with DIEP just a couple months ago and am finishing up my chemo (have 5 more weeks!).  Hope you are doing well.