Calling all ladies in their 20's

amandabiv: good luck.

More of an update for you younger ladies:

I am 23, was diagnosed initially with DCIS, Stage 0, Grade 3, comedo-type breast cancer. I chose to have a BMX with SNB on 8-8. My surgical pathology showed that my lymphnodes were negative so none were removed besides the 3 for testing - 2 sentinel, 1 non-sentinel. I also was diagnosed with IDC, Stage 1, Grade 2 breast cancer. Now I am looking towards hormonal treatment/chemotherapy (combined) since I am so young and want to kick this thing in the teeth. I am going for a second opinion at the Dana Farber Center in Boston, MA. and am also looking to freeze my eggs before any treatment occurs. I did not test positive for BRCA, which is amazing. However, I am still scared and right now I am just trying to get my school schedule (I am a Psych Master's grad student) in order before all of this gets started. 

Hi to those who are new and those that are old (on the discusison boards I mean). We can get through this because we are strong women...*hugs to all*

justegan: try your best to keep that attitude your gonna need it...good luck to you my prayers are with you all of you!!

Hi, I hope I am posting in the right place. I've been a long time lurker and just joined today. I'm 26 and was diagnosed with Stage III IDC on Friday, April 13 this year. Go figure it would be a Friday the 13th, right? I just finished my last round of TAC x6 this past Wednesday. My tumor was over 6cm when I was diagnosed, but now, they can't feel it anymore (yay!). I am supposed to have a followup MRI this Wednesday to see what's going on in there to determine what kind of surgery I am eligible for at this point. I'm scared, to say the least.

I never thought I'd be diagnosed with breast cancer. I am a health freak, a gym rat, and a hypochondriac with no family history of disease. I don't drink alcohol, smoke, consume caffeine, and I'm basically a vegetarian (if you have to put a label on my diet -- it is just very rare that I eat meat or dairy). Docs say I'm just a case of bad luck.

Anyway...I'm glad to be through chemo, because it was definitely tough for me. Just trying to bounce back to myself now and see what's next. As much as this stinks, I'm glad I'm not alone in it. 

prettyinpink: Welcome!! As unhappy as we are about dealing with this I am happy to say that you are not alone and have found a sisterhood here...idk that I would say that cancer is bad luck I call it my bump in the road of life that the devil has thrown my way but God is bringing me through it!! Congrats on being done with your chemo I know it seems small to some but I celebrated when I was done with it to....my prayers are with you through this journey!!

I can really relate to the ladies posting about their sad feelings around pregnant friends. Last week, my best friend got engaged, and I really am so so happy for her, but it also hurts. Basically it reminds me of our wedding two years ago, and how much has changed. How important all those decisions about cakes and seating charts seemed, and how stressful it was...it's a good kind of stress, really. One thing that really got to me was thinking about the dress, and how you worry about what will look good on you, etc. Now that I have a "new" body, I'm going through that every day. One blogger I was reading said that breast cancer winds up being like a second puberty, because your body changes radically in ways you can't predict. I thought that was an interesting way to think about it. So now I'm doing what I did when I was 12 and just getting boobs-- wearing lots of giant tshirts, .

I hope everyone is getting to relax a bit this holiday weekend!

To Justegan -

I am 22 years old and just recently diagnosed with DCIS on my right breast. I have had problems with my right breast since I was 19, I have had 3 lumpectomies, and finally this third lumpectomy I was diagnosed with DCIS. I talk to my oncologist and her advice is that I will probably down the road need a mastectomy. Somedays I'm ok with the thought with mastectomy and reconstruction and some days I'm not. My fears are that I am so young, and losing my breast and how will it look like after reconstruction. I am thinking I would probably do implants. So my question for you is what made you choose bilat mastectomy and how are you dealing with all of it? Thanks so much

Hi Jamie,

I am really sorry to hear about your diagnosis, no matter what age we are this sucks for all of us. However, I'd like to believe it sucks just a little bit more for us that are younger since we haven't even lived a quarter of a century (for us that is) and now we have to deal with this crap. 

If you don't mind my asking, what size are you now after all of the lumpectomies? Were you able to keep both of your nipples? 


The reason I ask both of those questions is because the answers to those two questions were part of the three main reasons I chose a bilateral mastectomy over the single mastectomy (I only had cancer in my right breast) as well as why I chose to do the BMX in general:

1.  I had small breasts to begin with (34 A), so for me...I was not losing as much with regards to my body. Still does not change that I lost a part of me, but I viewed it as "I'm losing my boobs to save my life." I told someone that I viewed this whole experience as a war, and that I possibly needed to lose a battle to win the war. In essence, I lost the battle in keeping my breasts but I will win the war with regards to this cancer. Invasive ductal carcinoma could not be ruled out either upon my diagnosis of DCIS. My surgical pathology showed that I did have IDC...luckily we caught it early and I was able to have clear margins after surgery (I still have isolatd tumor cells so other treatment is needed but I am happy I made the decision I did). 

2. For me there wasn't much to save with regards to my breast. I was explicity told that my right breast pretty much couldn't be saved due to the size of the tumor/size of my breast. My right nipple could not be saved since I had a tumor literally right underneath it. So for me, again the BMX was an easy decision because I did not want really assymetrical boobs. 

3. I don't want to have to look over my shoulder for the next 5, 10, 15 years wondering when cancer is going to happen to the other breast. If it did come back (not that it is gone yet), I can at least say that I fought it the hardest way possible...and because of that I will never have any regrets. Even when I was told I had isolated tumor cells in my lymphnodes I was sad because I thought it would be over for me after the BMX. However, I am still happy that I went the route of the BMX because I can say I fought this the hardest way possible.

Also, note that reconstruction does look great. I have an amazing plastic surgeon and I had to go with tissue expanders due to my size (5'1', 102 pounds), I didn't have enough fat for a DIEP flap. The TEs are an adjustment, however; they really aren't that bad. My boobs are bigger than they ever were and honestly the lack of nipples does not bother me at all (I chose NOT to do nipple sparing on the left side...for me it was about assymetry). To be honest, I don't have a ton of feeling in my breasts even after skin sparing so I am happy I chose to not to nipple sparing [although that is an option for you ]. I love love love going braless and no having to worry about my nipples standing at attention lol! Since I am young, I was up and walking around even with the drains in after surgery without much problem. 

Whatever decision you make, please make it for you. I know a lot of my family judged me when I told them I was doing the BMX. And even doctors look at me like I'm crazy when I say I did (mostly because most young women wouldn't go that route). But when I explain my reasoning they understand and they say they would've done the same thing. It was the right decision for me and I let no one (not even my parents) weigh in. I knew it was right for me before I was diagnosed. So all I can urge you to do is think about what you would be comfortable living with. I still wake up and the scars are startling, however; I view them as my battle wounds and I try to wear them as proudly as I can. 

Hope that helps you and if you have any other questions please feel free to private message me!

Justine

@Toastiecat

Thanks for your advice! Yeah ultimately I understad it's my decision and I'm giving it a good amount of thought. So you got a bmx? did you have bc on both sides? Also I see that you are doing the tissue expanders, if I go the mastectomy way I will prob to TE and implants. How are the tissue expanders?

 And yeah about the lack of feeling, I was wondering about that also. I have had three lumpectomies and this past lumpectomy on the side of breast it has been kind of numb. So I could only imagine how mastectomy feels.

My question to all the ladies ---- How long after bmx or umx were you guys out of work/school? And how long before you were out and about? I work as a nurse (floor nurse) so I already know I cannot work on light duty. So I'm wondering how long before I could go back to work, and how long before I can drive around and do normal activities. Thanks you guys!

-Jamie

Hi Jamie!



I agree with Justine. There's many factors that can gear you decision to one or the other. My surgeon Dr. A suggested the bmx after my 6mth mammogram and had found lumps on both sides. She didn't know or not if this would keep reoccurring or not but seeing as I am one of her few youngest patients she didn't want to keep opening me up. She suggested the bmx and as sad as I was to lose my breasts (I was small anyway) I didn't hesitate and gave her my okay. My implant exchange is December, I feel anxious because I want it over already but it's not so bad. My pain wasn't that horrible. For everyone the pain level and how they dealt with it will be different. The drains for me were bloody hell! I couldn't drive or lift my arms for about a month (I was pretty tight after surgery i'm guessing) but it was somewhat smooth sailing afterwards. I was able to keep both my nipples. Dr. A did say that there will be some cells there so I would have to still self check for no new lumps but she doubts it, her main concern was removing my whole breast tissue. I had a lumpectomy scar around my right nipple. I probably wouldve had my PS remove them if it meant I could fix that scar and tattoo my nipples later. But at my reconstruction In December my PS will do a revision scar there to minimize it so it's okay. I'm done with the fills for the TEs so it's a game of being patience till then.



For me emotionally I had to deal with a lot of things since my mom was done with her colon cancer. She had intensive radiation and chemo. I was lucky to not need radiation even though I had a Phyolldes tumor. So for me, I choose the bmx mostly because I agreed with Dr. A for not wanting to be cut open so much and have more internal scarring but also I just wanted things done and over with. I wasn't scared of the possible radiation or of surgery but of the fact if I had to deal with a possible reoccurring lump. (the second time around I didn't do a biopsy before the bmx, so I was a time bomb waiting to explode) my pathology report after my bmx said it was baby tumors and 2cysts. How many exactly I didn't ask or wanted to know. I was glad it wasn't anymore worse or bigger than the first lympectomy.

I had my bmx during summer and was at home for a month. The TEs were okay. The fills weren't so bad. Because my skin was tight it hurt if I filled too much at a time. The numbness after a while I got used to it. The numbness of my left back underarm by the armpit (I hope that made sense haha) is slowly fading on the right side it's still numb...not better or worse. If I take off my shirt and it rubs against it, it gives me a burning feel for two seconds but no complaints here for me. They were a pain when I sleep though.
I also had skin sparring and like Justine said that could be an option.

Justine:
"nipples standing at attention" haha that cracked me up!! But I probably wouldve done that too. It feels weird wearing a tank top and everyone can see your nipples >_< thank god for the nipple coverings..



Kathy :]

Jamie-
On the bright side if your PS can't save your nipples, at least you can reconstruct or tattoo them so they'll match! xD LOL! I've only had the ultrasound biopsy..

For the MRI biopsy, and correct me if I'm wrong anyone, they use an MRI to create like a 3D pic effect. I think they will have you either lie facedown on a scanning table and there should be a hollow cavity in the table for your boobs when you lie down (we can't squish our boobs for the imaging) or lie face upward. The MRI is just like a mammogram.it will show the lump so they know where to do the needle biopsy and send it to the lab for testing.
Should be very similar to the ultrasound biopsy though.

Hello everyone! Haven't been on in a week. Took me a while to read through everything. I finished my radiation on thursday Finally finished something and it felt happy sad. I was very emotional.

Fatigue is still kicking my butt! It helps that my girls are back to school so now I have to get up and moving bright and early and I am doing more housework now.

Welcome to the new ladies. sorry about your diagnosis but happy your here to get support. I wish i found this site sooner.

as far as the question about choosing bmx, my decision was pretty much that i was scared if i didnt do it, it would come back, my cancer side i had no choice, very small IDC but lots of DCIS and if they took it out i would not have a boob left anyway (34A)

So I thought i would feel relieved that i was heading towards my expander swap but now im SCARED. I have had 2 surgeries and i still am scared of anesthesia. I know I will be happy to get my squishies lol, these expanders bother me more by the day. My PS said i might have to get a new one on my radiated side and patch the radiated skin, wait for it to heal and then fill it up again. Right now my non cancer side is all ready to go, but looks like it will be a while.

Hope everyone has a good weekend.

Theresa

Taraceta28 & Amanda-

My implant exchange is sometime in December and I can't believe it's September!

After I had radiation, I actually went to physical therapy. The exercises they gave me really helped with my range of motion! But I will say...I'm a year out from radiation and I'm still a little stiff in the armpit area. I have full range of motion, it just feels tight. Ask about PT! Yay for being done with radiation!

I havent had any stiffness with mine so I have no advice but I will pray for you