Hi everyone. I made my first post in the under 50's group but thought I'd introduce myself on here too. Looking for people to talk to around the same age as me as I've mentally been struggling. I hope it's ok but I'll just copy and paste what I wrote on there as it explains some of my journey so far...
I'm really struggling to find someone around the same age as me going through anything similar so I don't know why it's taken me so long to join one of these so here goes...
I'm 31 and was diagnosed on the 16th August with invasive ductal breast cancer. There's no history in my family and it's a triple negative cancer so I'm now being put forward for genetic testing to see if I'm the start of the mutated gene.
I'm currently on maternity leave after having my second baby back at the end of April and I was breastfeeding so had a very stressful month trying to get her on the bottle (that actually stressed me more then my diagnosis). I actually found the lump last year in July and was failed by 2 GP's from then until October - one during pregnancy - by not getting referred. The dimpling appeared around that lump in July of this year which is what caused me to go back.
I now have 3 lumps, 2 lymph node areas affected and the possibility of cancer related specks on my lung (so now I'm terrified I have secondary).
I'm having my third FEC treatment tomorrow and then 3 T treatments will follow, then it'll be on to a mastectomy and radiotherapy next year.
I'm struggling mentally especially the week post chemo plus the fear of having secondary breast cancer and I just need people to talk who can relate.
Thank you for taking the time to read this. X
Hi
You've come to the right place! This group is more active than the under 50's one, and quite a few younger folks in here.
Sorry to hear you've been let down by the medics, unfortunately an all-too-frequent thing. Let's hope the chemo does what it says on the tin though. Try not to cross bridges until you get to them - harder than it sounds though.
How are you coping with chemo? There is a chemo monthly chat group which may be of use to you. If you click the "discussions" tab at the top of this group then you can find the active threads.
Sleeping is always tough at times like this - there is a thread called "AWAKE" where insomniacs and others gather for support and a lot of fun and laughs.
Hug? xx
Karen
Hi rhi_b88. I'm new to this community too, just joined today. My story is somewhat similar although iv just turned 40.
Last September I went to the GP because my breast felt hard like a tensed muscle on the one side. I was convinced it was probably stress related due to the three teens at home but was also aware that my breast just didnt feel normal. This August I went back to the docs, which was hard because they made me feel paranoid, and was finally referred. I was diagnosed with stage 2b BC (2 tumours) and had a left mastectomy with implant reconstruction 12 days later (2 days before my 40th). I am HER2 negative but EP+ and PR+.
I started FEC-T chemo in October and have just completed my second cycle. Once this is all finished I need an axillary clearance as they also found cancer in the 2 lymph nodes they removed during the mastectomy. I will probably also have radiotherapy but it's not been confirmed yet and will also require hormone treatment.
I was working full time before this and was the main income in our household (hubs was a carer for his dad who passed earlier in the year, now he looks after me). Iv been told I cant work whilst undergoing treatment but if im honest I don't think I could anyway. I feel helpless and have lost a lot of independence.
It's all a bit sh*t if I'm honest. Iv put on loads of weight, lost a boob and now my hair, I look in the mirror and see a small fat man! Yesterday I cried just because I didnt want to feel sick any more, the day before I cried because putting frozen food away was hard work, tomorrow il prob feel better.
At the end of the day as hard as this is we are doing it to survive. We need to be here for our babies. And as pants as it is (hopefully) this is just a period in our life we can look back on later. I know that secondary cancer is scary, I'm still awaiting this to be ruled out too, but until its confirmed either way I want to focus on my cancer free goal of next summer. Theres nothing I can do either way so will panic when the time comes. I have enough things to cry about at the moment (how heavy do frozen chips have to be) without adding.
Just remember you are what's important. Take time for yourself. Try not to worry too much (easier said than done). This community looks great and having the support of each other will get us through
sending love x
