B/C in your 40's, newly diagnosed

I was diagnosed in November at the age of 46. I had my surgery January 27th.I had a long wait while waiting on genetic testing, the holidays and trying to get a date that the BS and the PS could do surgery together. I opted for a reduction with my lumpectomy. Friday I find out about chemo which I don't believe I will be having and starting the process of radiation. Best of luck on your journey through treatment. So many great supportive ladies on these boards.

Hello Bebe... I am 42,I was diagnosed with dcis New Years Day.. YIPEE for me,what a way to begin the new year,right? I had a double mastectomy January 17. It has been a pretty easy journey so far. A few snags along the way but liveable. I will not need chemo or rads since my BS said my pathology from my sentinel biopsy was clear. I still have a lot of pressure and discomfort due to fluid that keep building up on my right side. It is improving,just slow. This is one of my snags..

I have 5 kids and it has rocked their world. They are finding courage they never knew they had or wanted.

I was diagnosed at 43. I had lumpectomy, radiation, and waited one year and took tamoxifen for 5 years. I just finished in January. It was so scary at the time. I had no side effects of the tamoxifen so really, once I recovered from the radiation, my life was back to normal. I was lucky to have radiation just about 10 minutes from my house, and a short work commute, so was able to work full time during those 6-7 weeks. I had some skin burning, and rashes, and stopped wearing bras, although exercise bras were fine. I walked every day during the radiation and I think that helped, and went to bed early every night. I got a lot more serious about my health after it and eat better and exercise more. I don't want another breast cancer, so I hope the diet and exercise help me, and I want to sail through menopause...still at 50, no sign of it. I do have second thoughts about the radiation. Radiation can have long term side effect, and I do know now, but didn't at the time, that if I get cancer in the same breast that was radiated, you can't have radiation twice, so it would be immediate mastectomy. Good luck!

I was diagnosed nearly two years ago now at 45. I had grade 1 tumors, no positive nodes, and a low oncotype so I just had a BMX and implant reconstruction and was done. I'm doing great now, no problems. I don't tend to be very emotional and kept my diagnosis and treatment very matter-of-fact to my children (older teens) and we all handled things just fine. I do occasionally think about the possibility of recurrence but remind myself that the majority of women never experience another issue and don't let it linger. My life is very much back to normal.

my reasons were.. I had gastric bypass in 2003. I do not absorb meds very well. We were concerned that being on Tamoxifen would be a problem. Plus my boobs were already sorry looking ladies. I thought that if I had to see my unaffected breast and this new perky breast it would be harder. I know that I would have a lift also but by the pictures I saw it would still be a problem. Prior to surg my BS was not so sure my sentinel biopsy would be clear. The largest of the group was right up against my chest wall.. he had a feeling I would be upgraded to a different cancer. This was wrong ,thankfully. Not to mention I happen to be one of those people that fall in that little percentages of problems. Such as pregnancy while have the IUD Mirena inserted.. yes this sister right here,he is now 7.. that was not the only time. So with my exquisite reputation I decided why screw with odds,they really do not like me. So with all of that it made me confident with my decision. If I kept my left I would have needed prophylactic meds,such as Tamoxifen. I have never doubted my choice,so I knew it was right. We did find out post op that cancer was also in my left. Extremely low,he said he didn't think a Mammo would have picked it up. I don't know what type was found,I pick up the paperwork today.

I will need hormone therapy of some sort. I still have all my lady parts,but would happily hand them over if they my Oncologist recommends it. I am through with my uterus, I have 5 kids. I have had my cycles since I was 9 yrs old,I'm now 42,go away already. I see her next week.

Wow that was kinda winded,sorry 😁

DJmammo, I felt mine first and saw symptoms... Mammo didnt' even see it, but US did. Mammo was pointless for me.

djmammo - mine was found on a regular screening mammogram at age 45.

Bebe7F, I consider myself lucky in a way because I didn't have to make the decision between lumpectomies or BMX. When the first tumor was found (djmammo, I felt the lump, and mammo showed nothing in the right breast) and I discussed my options with my surgeon she gave me both options but mentioned that because I have connective tissue disease radiation can cause a "late side effect" of tissue death. She sent me to an oncologist and out for a breast MRI, which found the second tumor and many other "areas of concern". The tumor board as a whole decided I should have a mastectomy, even before the second tumor was biopsied. After completing the right-side biopsy the radiologist pulled me into his office and showed me the many other areas in both of my breasts that would need a biopsy if I were to go with lumpectomies. He said he had rarely seen so many areas of concern before. So that was that, and I never had to think about it again!

djmammo,

lump and mammo at age 44

diagnosed at 49. Went every single year without fail for mammo and ultrasound. When I was diagnosed, they told me the mammo looked fine, went in for my ultrasound - not fine. Mammo didn't pick it up at all. Still not sure how it got to be 2.1cm all those years with no one seeing it before then - really makes you wonder....