Cancer Research UK main site
  • Replies 10 replies
  • Views 2343 views
  • Users 0 members are here

Recently diagnosed breast cancer, 28 years old

Dee32
Offline

Hi,

I'm not really sure why I'm writing this. I was diagnosed with grade 2 breast cancer on Monday (still waiting HER2 results etc). I'm an (otherwise!) healthy 28 year old. I'm currently feeling so angry and I don't know what to do!! Xx

Parents
  • Offline

    Hi Dee, 

     

    I completely understand your anger! I am also feeling the same. I was diagnosed a month after my 30th birthday. I was diagnosed after finding the lump (which I actually found because of my dog), a few days into lockdown.

     

    Even though I was seen super quick and my Dr was amazing and got me seen quickly, I also found that I kept getting comments like 'Its probably, not cancer as you are so young'.

     

    I was lucky from the day I found the lump to my 1st day of chemo was a month. My scans have shown no signs of spread and the lump has now disappeared halfway through my chemo. 

     

    I am currently 1 chemo away from finishing my treatment and then I am having a single mastectomy in September. I have asked for a double, but as I don't have the gene they don't really want to give it to me, but I will be pushing until I get one.

     

    It's hard to accept I have no reason why I have cancer. I am angry and scared and I don't think that will ever go away - but I won't let it defeat me and I won't let it and I won't let this define who I am.

     

    I hope everything goes well with treatment and even though the symptoms are not nice, they are all manageable. You just have to take it one day at a time. 

     

    Take care

    Soph x

Reply
  • Offline

    Hi Dee, 

     

    I completely understand your anger! I am also feeling the same. I was diagnosed a month after my 30th birthday. I was diagnosed after finding the lump (which I actually found because of my dog), a few days into lockdown.

     

    Even though I was seen super quick and my Dr was amazing and got me seen quickly, I also found that I kept getting comments like 'Its probably, not cancer as you are so young'.

     

    I was lucky from the day I found the lump to my 1st day of chemo was a month. My scans have shown no signs of spread and the lump has now disappeared halfway through my chemo. 

     

    I am currently 1 chemo away from finishing my treatment and then I am having a single mastectomy in September. I have asked for a double, but as I don't have the gene they don't really want to give it to me, but I will be pushing until I get one.

     

    It's hard to accept I have no reason why I have cancer. I am angry and scared and I don't think that will ever go away - but I won't let it defeat me and I won't let it and I won't let this define who I am.

     

    I hope everything goes well with treatment and even though the symptoms are not nice, they are all manageable. You just have to take it one day at a time. 

     

    Take care

    Soph x

Children
  • Offline in reply to sophieJ1
    Hi Soph! Lovely to speak to you... if only through rubbish circumstances. Can you please tell me how your dog helped?! I’m so intrigued!! I would love to know... my (mums dog) knows when I’m upset but I don’t think she can diagnose cancer! Haha. So good you were seen so quickly. I was upset as it took weeks and weeks of me pushing to be seen. Thank goodness. So unlike me. I guess I just knew? It’s all so weird. I felt the lump so suddenly- but my initial surgeon told me ‘it was possibly there for years’. Given the latest info I have I’m not so sure- so thank gosh i made a fuss. But anyway it all worked out. Not sure if I’ve updated here. But I have a high onco score and also BRCA2 meaning the cancer might be more of a pain to get rid of and has a good chance of coming back. I only found out in the last week or two which means my chemo will be much longer and with added drugs. But that’s okay. It’s got to be done. I need to get this right first time as I don’t want to do this again. Having said that... so far so good. I have tolerated my first bit of chemo well. But now heading on to weekly chemo of a difference type with another added drug in every 3rd week so we shall see! This also means oncologist/geneticists are keen for double mastectomy as I have a high risk of getting it again (they pretend not to endorse it, it’s my choice, but they seem keen and the evidence agrees and so do I). I will likely need ovaries etc out in a few years when I know if I want kids. Luckily I have a fab boyfriend I met in uni and we have been together 9 years almost and he just takes it all in his stride. He is so relaxed sometimes it upsets me but he is just like that. He won’t discuss the future- all he wants is for me to be better now; which is lovely. I don’t really know what to say to you other than I almost now feel ‘grateful’ that I have a dodgy gene- and it explains my dad’s cancer too. I just worry for family and my little bro. And therefore I feel almost bad that you don’t have a gene.... as it means you don’t have an explanation. I was so angry and confused being one of the handful of women under 30- I’m so fit and healthy! But I have a reason now. Does that sound awful? I have an explanation beyond my control. And you don’t. And i can’t imagine how difficult that must be. Will you let me know if you mange to get a double mastectomy? I guess if you don’t have the gene then this is just a horrible stroke of luck for you and they don’t feel the need to do mastectomy on the other. Which makes sense but I know the fear. I would feel the same but I guess you have to weigh it all up. Ps. If the cancer has shrunk to almost nothing- why the need for mastectomy and not just removal of the tissue?? I hope to hear from you soon and best of luck with the final chemo. Fingers crossed you can move on and forget 2020 every happened! Dee Xx
  • Offline in reply to Dee32

    Hi Dee and Soph, 

     

    Glad to hear you are both cracking on with treatment - I am also pushing for genetic testing but unsure when this will be arranged as very slow so far. 

     

    I am doing okay thanks, I had my surgery before chemo and they removed the 2.3cm lump with clear margins. Unfortunately i had one positive lymph node but this was also removed so they are hopeful that the spread is contained. I've been torturing myself with back pain which I'm sure my brain is making 100 times worse - my oncologist has lined up a full body scan for me and if i'm honest I am actually bricking it. 

     

    My little boy is doing really well, 10 months now and starting to climb on everything. He's difficult to keep up with, especially when you're in the chemo fog!

     

    Thanks for checking in with me - hope you keep posting update of your progress :)

     

    Rosie

Speak to a nurse

Quick links

Follow us

Registered with Fundraising Regulator (logo)
Cancer Research UK is a registered charity in England and Wales (1089464), Scotland (SC041666), the Isle of Man (1103) and Jersey (247). A company limited by guarantee. Registered company in England and Wales (4325234) and the Isle of Man (5713F). Registered address: 2 Redman Place, London, E20 1JQ.