It's official....I'm scared.

I'm sorry you are having to deal with this at such a young age. I do not have experience with the MX, but someone will surely be along to give you some support.

You are in my thoughts.

Kristen,

Hi. Sorry to hear about your diagnosis. I had a bilateral mastectomy in January 2014. I too, had/have a difficult time emotionally about "losing" part of myself to the cancer. I still have moments where I can't believe this has happened to me! But I also have moments where I say, I won, not the flipping cancer!!!! I have been seeing a social worker at a local cancer center. The first time we met, well I cried the whole hour! I couldn't talk about having cancer, shoot I was dizzy walking into the building and kept saying to myself omg I have cancer!! Walking in there made it real. That first meeting was tough, but boy was it needed!!! This may be something you'd be interested in looking into. 

How was your diagnosis determined? I had calcification on my mammogram. We went immediately (like the next day) to do a stereotactic biopsy. Through the biopsy she found ADH- this is pre cancer cells. She said she needed to do a lumpectomy so we scheduled that and it's then that the DCIS, LCIS and more ADH was found. I always said that I'd have a mastectomy if there was any cancer or possibility of cancer. My mom had breast cancer as well as my aunt. The doctor told me I has two options- another lumpectomy (because my margins weren't clean), plus radiation and tamoxifen for 5 years or BMx. This for me was a no brainer. I immediately called her and said I wanted to schedule the BMx. Yes the decision was easy, then it sinks in and you realize what that means. And it sucks!!! But that was a time that I felt I could control something... No I couldn't control the fact that I had cancer but I could control how I was going to "deal" with. I had my exchange on June 2 and still sometimes am like damn! I had cancer!!! It's something that's always on my mind but with time and the support from friends, family, women on this forum and the cancer social worker I feel stronger each day! I hope the same for you!! 

Kristen:

I'm dropping in from the December 2013 Chemotherapy and March 2104 Surgery forums. I had a BMX on March 31st. I am also "young" for this according to my breast surgeon and plastic surgeon, and at 45 I'll take that! 

The BMX was a little tough, but you will get through it. I only took 3 weeks off of work, and I walked almost everyday during recovery. I would recommend that you do that if possible. I was fortunate to have nipple sparing surgery, and maybe you will be also. If you have TEs like a lot of us do, hopefully you will come out of surgery with at least a "mound." My incision was an upside down "T", and at almost 3 months out my scars are not bad at all. They are a pale pink and white. I have 2 - 3 "fills" to go, and then will get my exchange date. I am finding the TEs a little "weird" but certainly tolerable. I'm not much of a "boob girl", but I think my new girls look pretty good considering the alternative! In fact, I'm taking the "new girls" to the beach next week! They will not get as much sun as they normally would, but they will be there anyway!

There are lots of sisters on this site who have gone through this or are going through it now. Like I said, I'm a member of the March 2014 Surgery Sistas, but I am finding the June 2014 Surgery Sistas very informative and a really FUN group. If you haven't seen the Young with Breast Cancer forum, you might want to go there too. I don't follow it as much since I'm probably not THAT young, but I am sure they are equally as fabulous and informative as the other ladies on this site!

I will keep you in my prayers!!!

Kristen81 - Hi, and welcome to the 'club no one ever wanted to join'.  I'm so sorry you have to go through this at such a young age, but you can do this! Unfortunately
there are thousands of us that have gone before you, as you can see by this
forum. I was diagnosed in early July 2013 with DCIS and then when they
went in to do a left breast excision three weeks later, they found I had LCIS and ALH as well. As I am a DES daughter and have suffered with a severe case
fibrocystic breast disease for over twenty years, the choice to have a BMX
was a no-brainer - but then again it was MY choice. No one forced me
or hurried me. But once I made up my mind, I wanted it done and done
as soon as possible. From the tone of your post, I'm afraid you're not
that comfortable with what's about to happen.

I'm not going to lie to you; the BMX is tough - both physically and emotionally - but you can get through it.
Give yourself a chance to get used to the idea and try to find some peace in
the fact that this will essentially eliminate the enemy. 

Give yourself plenty of time
to heal and don't push yourself as so many of us are prone to do. That will pay off in the long run. This is no time to be a hero.  Accept the help that friends and family will offer - they will all want to do something, but they just don't know what you need.  

If you start reading the
forum, there are lists of what to take to the hospital, how to get your house
ready, etc., etc. Just remember If you need help, advice, or just a laugh
and a stupid game to take your mind off everything, come here. There is
always someone here, so never be afraid to reach out. No one knows how
this works better than the women who have already gone through it.

I wish you nothing but the best and trust me, once you have a surgery date and a treatment plan in place, things will get easier... One step at a time, one foot in front of the other.  Please let us know how you're doing...