Calling all ladies in their 20's

Thankyou ladies for the PT advice. I will definately look into to going and in the mean time try some exercises at home. I have an appointment this week with my ps to check my expanders, they are almost poking through the skin it seems, very painful (stinging/burning and sharp pains) havent had any pain in a long time except for the fills but that was different pain (achy, heaviness and tightness), have had a fever for 2 days so im pretty nervous, i hope its nothing.

Hi NicoleJasie, i am 28 also with 3 kids. hope your doing ok with your chemo. Do you have boys/girls, ages?

Thinking of all of you, hope everyone has a good week!

Hi everyone (I posted this on other discussions I frequent just because I don't have time to write multiple responses unfortunately but I wanted to let everyone know I still check the boards!),

I just wanted to send an update as to what is going on with me as I have been frequenting the boards only on my phone to read everyone's posts. I hope everyone is doing well and you are all in my thoughts and prayers!

I went for a second opinion at Dana Farber Cancer Insititute in Boston, MA yesterday. I got some expected news and some "good" news. After I was diagnosed, I looked into freezing my eggs because I was nervous that I would be thrust into immediate menopause (mind you I am only 23). However, I would like to note that that was the last thing I wanted to do. I went so far as having the exam, getting my blood drawn, and even getting the medications (my insurance has covered a majority of everything so I didn't spend a ridiculous amount of money or anything). When I discussed this with the oncologist there she was like, I don't think that is overly necessary. To be honest, I kind of needed someone to tell me; "hey, doing this isn't essential" to kind of give me the pass NOT to do it. I kept getting roadblocks with regards to the whole procedure. My period wouldn't come on time, I had appointments that kept needing to be rescheduled and things that got in the way. I would like to believe that this is God just kind of saying the same thing...again that is what I would like to believe. It was the one thing through all of this that I was not comfortable with...anything else God wanted to throw at me....surgery, chemo, etc....I could get through it. This, I really did not want to do. So I feel better to not be doing it .

Then I got news I had expected. Although the results of my oncotype dx score aren't back, she is recommending I go through chemotherapy. I had made it clear that the one thing I am not comfortable with is an axillary lymphnode dissection (if I could avoid any risks of LE I will...I am too young to live with a swollen arm). She had said that it is probably not beneficial to me as it would only provide more information of how far the disease has spread. But if I am comfortable with doing chemotherapy then it will probably not have to be an option. I want this thing out of me, so I will probably go the toughest route with regards to chemo...doing a dose-dense option of AC-T then Tamoxifen. She told me she wouldn't even have sent my tissue for the oncotype dx test as my tumor is so small that the test could possibly read a false negative. My invasive tumor was less than 1 cm when she was telling me they typically need 2cm or larger to give a result she personally would be comfortable with for assessment. So she is basically saying that I shouldn't even go for the oncotype test. Especially due to the lymphatic involment (even though it is just isolated tumor cells) she would suggest moving forward with chemo since we do not know its extent of spread. I want to discuss this with my medical oncologist back home (she is the one who suggested the second opinion since she is not a breast oncologist specifically) and see her thoughts as I really like her and value her opinion.

If we move forward, then I will need to schedule the surgery for the cath port then I will start chemo in the next couple of weeks. I am nervous and have already decided that if I am on the Adriamycin then I will shave my head before treatment starts. In a large majority of cases, hair loss can happen suddenly. I will not wake up with my hair sitting on my pillow or start grabbing fistfuls in the shower. That I have decided I could not handle emotionally....like I couldnt handle waking up flat and it is why I chose immediate reconstruction.

I know I am strong and can handle all of this....I am just nervous for the se's. I know that I have a terrible gag reflex and I get nauseous easily so that may be something that will only be worsened by chemo.

That is about it for me. I am just trying to figure out everything and get moving with regards to my treatment and whatnot. Again, all of you ladies are in my thoughts and prayers

*Many hugs*

Hi ladies! My name is Ashley. I am 25. I was diagnosed last week. Needless to say, I am scared to death! I am starting chemo next wk and have no idea what to expect.

Hi ladies! My name is Ashley. I am 25. I was diagnosis last week with stage 2, grade 3, PR/EST+ breast cancer with lymph node involvement. Needless to say, I am scared to death! I am starting chemo next wk and have no idea what to expect.

Ashley: I am so sorry to hear about you having to go through this, I wish I could tell you that it was gonna be easy but I cant. Everybody's experience is different just read over the paper work so you know what to expect but dont think it will happen that way. I understand being scared I think most people are and its totally understandable. Dont be afraid to lean on your family and friends let people know how you are feeling and demand them to respect it but understand that its hard for them to. I know its a lot to take in I will be praying for you!!

usmcblondie:

Sorry to hear, yes everyone treated me differently. People i havent talked to in sometime  all of a sudden wanted to be up my butt! You will see after awhile who is really there for you. Sometimes i felt smothered and sometimes alone. Kinda like a roller coaster! I feel that knowledge is power.Reading helped me. these discussion forums are great. they help me alot and i wish i knew about them sooner. Good luck with your kids mine are 2, 6 & 7. They keep me going everyday. Decisions are the hardest part. Somehow you will know whats right for you. ((((HUGS)))) to you. Stay strong and Fight Like A Girl! You WILL get through this.

usmcblondie: I agree with tara you will know what is right for you and your family...for me I had no choice but to keep my kids at home with me,grant it my husband was laid off at the time, however I am glad they were here. For me having my kids at home helped me to get up and do things even when I didnt feel like doing any thing and when I didnt get up they helped me and stood by my side through all of this. With people treating me differently only until they realized that I was not as upset as I guess they expected me to be. It wasnt until my surgery, and my treatments that people started asking again how I was doing and stuff but most people just sent me well wishes!! It can be annoying and at times overwhelming I just told me I was fine and smiled and tried to appreciate that they cared if that dont work tell them to shut up about it lol!! None of this is easy you just gotta find the way you can handle it!

USMCblondie,

I completely agree with the people treating you differently. I will be honest, it one of the things (besides the SEs) that I hate the most. I had a BMX with immediate reconstruction so unless I told people, no one knew I had cancer. But now with my starting of chemo, everyone knows. I either get people up my butt that I never wanted there, or people who I thought I was close to never asking how I am. If anything this experience has taught me who my true friends are and who will be here through the long haul.  

To everyone, 

P.S. Read this amazing story about my friend Adam. www.stjude.org/the-fighter

Even though he is not battling breast cancer, his battle with bone cancer surely puts my own fight into perspective and reminds me that I CAN do this!

By the way , I read an interesting article that proved that taking 600mg of kerkuma per day will save our lives because this plan kills cancer cells and researchers will start to use it soon in drugs against cancer. Sesam as well is great fr cancer cells on breast. Eat fresh salads with a lot of tomatos and green piments and  thym 

Just wanted to say hello. I am 29 and I have just been working through my first round of chemo ... I had some nasty reaction and ended up in the hospital for a few days; came home yesterday. I had BMX with TE on 8/27 and I'm slloooooowwwly expanding (just once so far, I'm at 150cc on each side). I'm in no rush. I am frustrated to be going through this at my age as you all understand which is why I found this board! Ugh. Pretty soon I'll have to be on the 30's board - and to think that was what I was most fearful of this year. Any BRCA girls in here? I am already fretting about oopherectomy, tamoxifen, menopause and all the other nonsense that comes after chemo. It would be nice to talk about it with someone my age. 

xoxo

I'm 29, I can't believe I will be 30 in 11 days. I'm all done with the treatment. What a year!!! We just moved to the USA in January and got diagnosed in March. I am so happy my sister is coming from Germany to celebrate my b-day :-)

I'm BRCA 1 positive. I was not surprised though, because all the women of my moms family had cancer or died from it.

Praying for everyone, poke welcome to the board sorry for the reason!! Going for my reconstructive surgery Tuesday so ready to have all this be over with!!!

@amandabiv:

Already!? I wish I had my reconstruction already

Hi, everyone hope all is well. My name is Katrina I am 25 and currently undergoing treatments I have had 3 chemo treatments and have three more. Then a month of rest and surgery and reconstruction and radiation, whoa !!! Alot and also a single mom and online college student with alot of personal issues and coping with the death of my younger brother a month before my diagnosis. It has been hard to say the least but I am happy to be alive. I was misdiagnosis 2x , and I can't help but think how worse it could have been if I wasn't stuck on getting the lump removed because it was ugly. Being young makes me touch a whole arena of people and allow you to put a younger prettier face to the disease to raise awareness. One day our survival stories will help people and be a testament
. Keep your head up ladies

Thank you and yes I do feel as if he was wit me , the first chemo treatment I extended my hand out in the chair and was for him to hold my hand. Any age has its challenges but I feel like young women definitely have it hard. I'm still n the process of planning my life n then it's my daughter, education , career like wow. But I do a good job at remaining positive at least and know I'm going to see good things , facing death definitely gives you a new outlook and it's so much I want to do . I will look back n strangely thank cancer for shaping my life from here on out. thank you for replying