Anyone doing radiation?

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jessica13
jessica13 Member Posts: 22
edited July 2014 in Young With Breast Cancer

And at NYU?

I started today and everyone in the waiting room was old and sickly / tired looking, I wanted to run away. Not that I begrudge older people having treatment - obviously - but it was so depressing to be lumped in like I'm one of them. I was hoping that the appointments after work hours would be better but not so far. I guess everyone our age gets a mastectomy?

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  • Worriedmommyof2
    Worriedmommyof2 Member Posts: 3
    edited March 2014

    hello, I loved seeing your post, because I know exactly how you feel. At 31 I chose to have a lumpectomy, but with that came radiation.  I was always the youngest by far, I always felt everyone was staring at me.  I had to drive 40 minutes one way to get to my treatments, it was a long 35 days, but looking back now, it seems to have went by quickly. Good luck, it will go by fast:)

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  • inks
    inks Member Posts: 746
    edited March 2014

    Even with the mastectomy some of us end up doing radiation. I'm 37 and will be doing rads even after mastectomy. But perhaps our observation should be that in general there are no young people at the oncologist office. When I went for a mammogram I did not see anyone my age even in the waiting room. That is just the nature of the beast.

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  • LindseyLadd
    LindseyLadd Member Posts: 10
    edited March 2014

    Thank you for posting this Jessica. I feel the same way. I'm 28 and had a lumpectomy and just finished my second week of radiation. Although my rad therapists are great, the other patients (who all could be my mother or grandmother) seem like they're always starring.  I keep telling myself that's it's in my head, but it still is uncomfortable. So, I understand how you feel. I definitely don't feel like I fit in since I'm decades younger and "look healthy" because I opted out of chemo.  I try to remind myself that we all our fighting our own battles  here and that comes in all forms! Hang in there :) 

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  • Kellymci
    Kellymci Member Posts: 18
    edited July 2014

    I was 34 when I was diagnosed. I had 8 rounds of chemo, then a double mastectomy (I didn't have the option of a lumpectomy because I was small chested with a large lump plus lymph node involvement) and 30 days of radiation. At every step of the way I felt the exact same way as you. I was the youngest and healthiest looking patient in the room and I felt like people were staring. I don't think it's in your head. They likely are staring, but not to be rude. I think they are just curious and some have kids our age so it hits them close to home. I usually just smile at them and they realize I caught them and either look away, embarrassed, or have a chat with me. I'm not bothered by it anymore. After all, we have much bigger things to think about! And I'm happy to report I heard the fabulous words "cancer free" at my last appointment! Now I just have to finish reconstruction and I can close this chapter for good! Good luck with your treatments and keep your head held high!! :)

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