Dealing with Cancer at 29

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angiev77
angiev77 Member Posts: 6
edited June 2014 in Young With Breast Cancer
Dealing with Cancer at 29
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  • angiev77
    angiev77 Member Posts: 6
    edited May 2008

    Hello, I am a 31 year old female that was diagnosed two years ago.  Since then I have had a double mastectomy, reconstruction and a full hysterectomy.  I am having a hard time dealing with the hormone issues as I had my ovaries removed also.  I am also trying to accept that I will not have any more children (I have a five year old daughter).  I am not really into the whole support group thing so I thought I would give this a try instead.  Anyone out there that has gone through any of this?

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  • BethNY
    BethNY Member Posts: 2,710
    edited May 2008

    I was never one for the face to face support groups either... something about everyone else having at least 20 yrs on me just didn't do it for me.

    I was dx'd at 26, I'm 30 now.  If you've never heard of the YSC, you should definitely check it out.

    www.youngsurvival.org

    it's a web site for gals our age- and you will connect literally with handfuls of girls in your exact same situation.

    I wish I could offer you advice- but I still have my ovaries.  I haven't had kids yet- and cancer has left me somewhat jaded in that dept.  I love my new breasts, so not breast feeding isn't really the issue--

    I get my period- and it's like I'm 17 all over again-- terrible cramps, so much pain and fatigue- and a few zits for sh*ts and giggles.  Top it all off with hot flashes in between and life is fabulous.

    I definitely think you should try to connect with other young women in the same situation.  Even if just to vent-- or share tips on beating hot flashes-- like lowering alcohol intake and what not...

    check out YSC and see what you come up with-- and there's a lot of us here for you too!

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  • angiev77
    angiev77 Member Posts: 6
    edited May 2008

    Thanks for the advice, I will definitely check it out.  Are you taking tamoxifen?  I was on it for about 18 months but then started having problems.  It was causing all these issues with my reproductive organs and my doctors started freaking out thinking it was cancer again.  I feel like I was scared into having a hysterectomy and oopherectomy and kind of regret doing it.  The only thing I am happy with is my reconstruction.  I am in a clinical trial and the implants are great.  I still have discomfort in my chest though as if my body is rejecting these foreign objects!  Again, thanks for the advice.

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  • BethNY
    BethNY Member Posts: 2,710
    edited May 2008

    I opted out of tamoxifen for a few reasons.  I was weakly ER + and the tamox would've only had like a 3% benefit (I did dose dense AC, dose dense Taxol, bilat masts, then a year of herceptin).

    I've had gynelogical issues in the past, and I felt that the Tamox had more risks for me than benefits.  When I went through chemopause the hot flashes were so out of control I had trouble breathing, I couldn't sleep.  I would sweat through shirts during the day and at night, and then be freezing and clammy.

    My onc and GYN explained that young women whose bodies are experiencing menopause- it's a shock to the system.  When my mom hit menopause naturally, it was a gradual process.  I've seen her with hot flashes, and they aren't that bad- but I do understand what she's going through. But still-- no where near as bad as what was happening to my body during chemo.

    How long ago was your reconstruction?

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  • angiev77
    angiev77 Member Posts: 6
    edited May 2008

    I had my first reconstruction in September of 2006 then a revision in December 2007.  I am done unless something goes wrong.  I had expanders for three months then they put in the real implants.  They did my mastectomies and my expanders all at the same time.  It was the worst pain of my life.  I didn't know you could hurt that bad.

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  • kloveya
    kloveya Member Posts: 3
    edited June 2008

    I have thought of having my breast removed now because of the previous 5 surgeries I have had. I have never shown any signs of cancer but with my family history it scares me. Now I am having problems with my mestrual and the doctors are running test. Does anyone know it the 2 go hand and hand?

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  • angiev77
    angiev77 Member Posts: 6
    edited June 2008

    If you have breast cancer and it is hormone positive it is very possible to get it in other female organs that have estrogen too.  This is why my oncologists have been pushing me to have a hysterectomy and oopherectomy since I was diagnosed even before I started having problems.  What problems have you had and what surgeries?  All I can tell you is that I had skin sparing mastectomies and I think (and so does my husband) I look better now than before except for the incision scars.

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