35, double mastectomy with reconstruction

Hi Christy,



I'm also 35 and was diagnosed in Jan.08. I had a Mastectomy in Feb 08 with immediate reconstruction. I have two kids 11 and 5. I know exactly what you are feeling.





Ro

Hi Christy! I'm 34 and was diagnosed two weeks before my birthday. Feb. 1st and I have a 13 yr. old and a 8yr old. Had my bilateral mastectomy with tissue expanders on March 24th. Four weeks out and feeling better with the whole thing. It's hard to express what your going through and family and friends are great but only others who have been through it really understand. Just keep your head up and a smile on your face. It'll be okay! Everyone has fears of the unknown but you just have to believe.

Hello I was dx at 23 last year in Aug. I dont have kids  yet but hopefully one day I will be blessed with a lil one. I had a bi lat mast no recon cause of radiation so I have to wait til about the end of this year next year to start to think about it. I did dose dense chemo (every 2 wks). I wish you the best of luck! Keeping the fight up for you and your family take care! Im here to listen! No matter what!

Hi, Christy. I was diagnosed at age 38, when my kids were 8 and 5. Got through surgery, chemo and rads and now am on tamoxifen. Through all this, my stage IV bc mom was living with us, so the kids were dragged to the cancer center an awful lot. She passed away in February, right when I was finishing up radiation. As horrible as the past year has been, I have to say things are starting to settle back down now, and I'm starting to see glimpses of my nice, boring, suburban mother life starting to come back. I'm sure the same will happen for you. You've come to a great place for support--let us know what the onc said about chemo for you.

Hi.  I'm 35 and was just dx in May.  I have 2 boys ages 5 years and 9 months old.  I found my lump while breastfeeding my 9 mnth old and was diagnosed as having mastitis.  Over the course of the next 6 months I visited the same doc 4 times and my concerns were brushed aside.  Finally the last visit I demanded a referal for a mamogram.... and needless to say... here I am.  I just don't understand.  Ive always been healthy and I'm fit (in the gym 5 x's a week).  No cancers/illnesses run in my family, other than an aunt who was dx last year at age 72 (no masect. or chemo... just rads).  I've read that "breast cancer does not discriminate" and that couldn't be a more true statement.  I am just starting this long journey and very scared.  I have seen so many posts from so many truly amazing women on this site who sound so strong... I can only hope to have half the strenth that they have.  So far all I know is that mine is IDC stage 2 grade 3 with negitive (receptors?) positive node.  I will have to do chemo, then double masectomy, then radiation.  (They are talking about doing the reconstruction once I finish my rads.)  I get my port in tommorrow morning.  They are also doing a 2nd core biopsy.  (I transferred to a better cancer center and the specimens of the slides the other cancer center sent were "crushed and poorly preserved".  Also, they didn't even send a slide over showing the positive node.... now do you see why I changed cancer centers???).  I have had the worst luck with doctors since the begining of this ordeal.  However, the team of doctors that I'm being treated by now are a wonderful group and I feel very comfortable (as comfortable as one could feel in this situation) with them.  I see alot of the posts on this thread are a few months old and I'm wondering how all of you are coming along.  Keep us updated.  Best of luck to you all.   ((((( HUGS ))))    

kelty- hang in there.....I was diagnosed 9/07 age 36 with grade 3 IDC, stage 2.  ER+, Her2 +.  I had mastectomy, chemo and radiation and 1 yr total of Herceptin.  It is an emotional rollercoaster but on that gets easier to deal with.  I pray a LOT when I have my bad moments!!  Oh - I also had a 2 yr old when diagnosed!  That was probably the toughest part!!  If you have any questions let me know!!  Good luck!

Hello all!

I'm 31, married and have a 3 year old daughter. I was diagnosed when I was 30 and my daughter was just about to turn 2. I have finished all my treatment including Herceptin on Nov 17 2008.

I've had my port out.. * thank god * and I am continuing with Tamoxifen, Lupron and Zometa.

I'm glad to see I'm not alone in all of this.

Auddie1, Congrats on almost completing the Herceptin. I was nervous too about finishing, but you'll see when you don't go back untill your 3 month check up you get thrown back into "mommy hood" and the fear lessens. As hard as it was to have gone through all this with a toddler, looking back I don't know what I would have done without her. She kept me in a routine and not to focus so much on the treatment ect. I just had my 1st, 3 month check yesterday. Nervous YES! But so happy when I walked out those doors. You will be ok too

Hi, all.  I was 37 with a 7 year old and 4 year old twins when I was diagnosed with Stage IIIA breast cancer.  I had chemo, a bone marrow transplant as part of a clinical trial, radiation, bilateral mastectomies with TRAM reconstruction, radiation, and 10 years of Tamaoxifen and femara.  10 years later I'm here, with my kids in high school and no evidence of disease.  See?  There is hope!  Kathy

Kathy, Thanks for sharing your story!

Wow - thanks Kathya - that is inspiring!  It's hard to remember that it is possible to just move on forward with this, it's so easy to let the fear and anxiety take over. So thanks for sharing and helping us to remember that there is hope.