Newly Diagnosed

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Kerri
Kerri Member Posts: 22
edited June 2014 in Young With Breast Cancer
Newly Diagnosed
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  • Kerri
    Kerri Member Posts: 22
    edited October 2007

    Hi, This is my first time on this chat site. My nameis Kerri. I'm 36 and started my battle with breast cancer in August when I found a large lump in my right breast. It was diagnosed as a grade 2, moderately agressive, hormone reactive cancer. I have had the lump removed and have started Zoladex implant injections and waiting to begin radiotherapy. My diagnosis came only 2 months after my mother was also diagnosed with breast cancer. Her's is a low grade cancer. She ahs also undergone lumpectomy and is currently doing radiation. I'm finding it still very hard to get my head around this as I still can't make sense of the connection between me and having breast cancer. It  feels like I'm in a "strange place", a visitor to some foreign place where I don't really belong. My mind is in a big muddle. I have a very strong family history of cancers, so I expected that I may be diagnosed with it myself some day, but not this soon. Trying to stay positive as other keep saying is mentally exhausting sometimes. Anyway, I hope I will be able to use this site to off load sometimes, esp. when I can't sleep like right now.

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  • mmcp
    mmcp Member Posts: 69
    edited October 2007

    Hi Kerri, I totally understand the lost feeling.  I was diagnosed July 4 of this year and still find it hard to believe sometimes that this is my life.  I'm only 32, no family history of cancer under age 60 of any kind.  I have so much to live for though, my boys are 3 & 1 and they get me through a lot of rough spots.  Are you doing chemo?  What stage is your cancer, do you know?

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  • KimRI
    KimRI Member Posts: 35
    edited October 2007

    Hi Kerri,

    I'm sure I speak for most on this board to say we know exactly what you are experiencing right now.  Nothing can prepare you for the diagnosis of cancer.  My mom was diagnosed with lung cancer 1yr. after my recurrence of breast cancer. 

    I was 33 yrs. old back at diagnosis(1/2003).  I had 2 1/2yr. old & 4mth. old girls.  My world came crashing down on that day........I have a great husband, family support system and have gotten to where I am today with that.  I had no family history, genetic testing came back neg., never drank, smoked, drugs,never overweight(except when pregnantSmile).  I still wonder, why me????

    I had bilateral mastectomy, chemo, radiation, reconstruction and then had a recurrence(to spine & liver) in Jan.'06, followed by elective hysterectomy in 11/06. I had radiation to my back and then started chemo.  I just had my last chemo treatment last week(80!!!!! total) and have been in remission for 1yr. now with no evidence of disease!!!  I just started taking Femera this week(which is for postmenopausal women to destroy any estrogen my body produces) and will still have weekly Herceptin treatments.

    I can remember back to last Jan. like it was yesterday........I can't believe I made it through all of that.........Things looked very grim for me at that time.  I'm beating the odds and don't plan on giving in to this ever......I have rejoined the gym and feel like my "precancer" days.  I look at everything differently now.  I think that about the only GOOD thing cancer brings you, is appreciation of life and of course meeting all of the great women/men along the way that have cancer too. 

    My advice to you is to be strong MOST of the time.  If you need to cry, cry.  Know that there are so many drugs out there and so much advancement in treatment even since my intial diagnosis. 

    Kim 

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  • nash
    nash Member Posts: 2,600
    edited October 2007

    Hi, Kerri. My mom and I both have BC, too. She's Stage IV, and has been dealing with it for five years, so when I was diagnosed this past June, I was already very educated on the disease. We have a very strong family history, too, so I felt like you did--it would hit me some day, just not when I was 38. I've got 2 young children, and am busy taking care of my mom, and in the beginning I felt like, "you're just going to have to give this diagnosis to somewhen else, b/c I'm entirely too busy." But one makes do, b/c there's no other choice.

    And, yes, one feels like one has moved to "Cancerland", which is located in some other dimension. Eventually you will find that this all just becomes the new normal, and things will get easier. The great thing about the site is that the women here are awesome and "get it", when the rest of the world doesn't.

    Hugs to you and your mom. 

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  • queenie_joan
    queenie_joan Member Posts: 1
    edited October 2007

    Hello, I had just turned 30 this past august and had just been diagnosed with breast cancer.  I went through surgery on the 9th, had a lumpectomy and had a few of my lymph nodes removed as well.  This was a HUGE suprise to me because I am the only person in my family diagnosed with breast cancer.

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  • Kerri
    Kerri Member Posts: 22
    edited October 2007

    Hi everyone,thanks for welcoming me. I have stage 2 cancer which I suppose is early cancer but is still just as scary. I have a 30% chance of regrowth which to alot of people that I've told isn't very high, "only 30%". But I have had 2 brain tumors one of them was 2 years ago and was regrowth from the first tumor. So I expect and am prepared for that prospect.

    I'm waiting to start radiation, and have started on Zoladex implants 3 weeks ago and I'm starting to get side effects like tiredness, lethary, nausea and hot flushes. I'm just hopeing they don't get worse with radiation. I'm finding it really hard to be positive with this right now, as you can probably tell. I've had some people have a go at me for this, people who havn't got cancer. But in can hear their voices telling me off everytime I think something negative. I'm glad I've found this community site. At least now I can be free to feel and say what I want and not be brow beaten for it, you all understand.

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  • momtothree
    momtothree Member Posts: 74
    edited October 2007

    Kerri, We do understand.....you can vent, whine, stress out and cry with us anytime!!

    I was 36 years old with 3 young children when I was dx...went through lumpectomy, chemo, rads, and prophylactic hysterectomy. I've had 5 years of Tamoxifen, now I am on Femara.

    My dx was 10 years ago...I will be 47 in 2 weeks!!!

    I'll never forget a billboard I saw many years back,it pictured a young woman and read:

        "Diagnosis: breast cancer.

         Prognosis: grandmother"

    I thought it was great!!! Always know you are never alone here!!

    p.s. Kerri, if you don't mind me asking...was you brain tumor malignant or benign?

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  • CyndieM
    CyndieM Member Posts: 7
    edited October 2007

    Kerri,

    Welcome - there is also an aussie website as well not sure if you've found it yet. Best of luck with your rads, I breezed through (except for the fatigue.... 

    http://www.bcaus.org.au/forum/index.php

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  • dawn418
    dawn418 Member Posts: 23
    edited October 2007

    Hi everyone- I don't know where to start... I was recently diagnosed with stage 3 ductal carcinoma in my left breast that has spread to my lymph nodes.  After 2 weeks of having every test I thought possible, my doctor told me I need a PEM scan "just to be sure they didn't miss anything" but she still has me scheduled for a lumpectamy with lymph node removal on Nov 1st.  I am only 30 years old, no history of cancer in my family, and married for one year...  This was the month my husband and I were going to try to have a baby- now we are battling cancer... They told me if I wanted to have a baby in the future I should harvest some eggs NOW, as I will be on Tomaxifin for 5 years- after my chemo and radiation, and they cannot gaurantee my period will return.  Needless to say my head is still reeling from the news of the cancer itslef, all the tests, the biopsy's, the waiting... Now I have to wait for the PEM scan - will it affect the outcome of my surgery?  Will I need a mastectamy vs. lump if it shows more tumors?!  So much waiting, so many questions, and now the thought of never having babies.  How do we deal with this?

    I know I am all over the map here with my story- I just feel like I am going to explode today.

    Thank you all for listening and I pray for everyone out here :>

    Dawn

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  • dawn418
    dawn418 Member Posts: 23
    edited October 2007

    Hi Kerri- I didn't mean to rant on your page- I am new to this too :>

    But I am here with you and we can go through it together.  I wish you the best of luck.  I will be looking for your updates to see how you are doing.  And all those people who want you to be happy when you just want to yell or take or nap- tell them to go away and do whats best for you!  I love my family and friends to death- but I have not had one minute of peace since this has began- I actaully had someone send me flowers with a note that said - " Congratulations- we are so happy for your wonderful news" because my PET scan came back OK (that it hadn't spread anywhere else) OK- but I still have cancer and had just learned may never be able to have children!  Some people just don't get it!

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  • linda107
    linda107 Member Posts: 11
    edited October 2007

    hi, I,m new to this as of today.  I not sure what to tell people.  The more I read about other peoples BC I think mine is to so bad.  But no matter how you look at it, everyone needs a hug, or definitely a prayer.  I am not what you would say a bible beater, but I do go to mass when I can or feel i can. I use to shy away from people when they said they were praying for me.  I was uncomfortable.  I then decided to just say thanks, and it got easier.  I know having kids is a blessing, but just keep open the idea of adoption.  It sounds mean but I am sure love has no boundries.  You can give your love to any child and who know maybe it will be you own.  I'll give a quick prayer every night.  So don't feel alone.  Hope you do not think i am a crazy nut.  All I know is my kids love for me keeps me going.  Even th kids I drive to school on my bus, they help the head aches go away.  Sorry I talk too much.  Linda

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