Oh Loulou, I know you're not looking for sympathy but you have mine. So much to get through at such a young age. Regardless of age, I think a lot of people feel lonely going through the cancer journey, I know I did and even though I knew others that had been through it I didn't click with them as each feels and acts differently. 

There are a few young ladies on here in your position (so you're not alone) and hopefully, they will come on and offer support but we also have a few that went through their treatment and years later came back on to tell us that they've had a baby :happy:

I'm sorry I couldn't be of much of help to you but I wish you all the best - You'll get through this x

Hi - I was diagnosed when I was 25 too (I'm 39 and have two kids now) I understand what your going through as everyone talks about age and the constant omg but your only young etc really makes you feel super lucky doesn't it! The one thing I felt was that because of my age I felt the drs threw everything at me to beat it which was reassuring. Due to my diagnosis I had chemo straight away to shrink before a lumpectomy and didn't have time for fertility treatment so they gave me injections to help protect my eggs throughout treatment which worked as have two munchkins! 
I felt alone too and didn't reach out so well done to you as it's hard. One regret I have is not doing that and putting on a strong attitude for everyone else and then just crying alone in the night as even now nearly 15 years later I don't think people I understand what I went through and sometimes why I am the way I am but that's because I didn't speak out - my friends were always there for me but were also getting married, buying houses with their partners and I didn't want to constantly be the 'dilly downer'.
in terms of chemo pain it does get better (or perhaps just get more used to it) and doesn't last forever but I know that doesn't help right now it's the tiredness I found the worst as no medication for that and didn't want to spend the days in bed when pain wise I felt better but there is nothing wrong with looking after yourself and taking it easy!

I hope others respond who are currently going the same, take car of yourself x

Thank you, it's lovely just to hear people have come out the other side! I hope one day I will be one of those who comes back with good news ️ X

Thank you for replying! I'm so happy to hear you have two kiddies!! This is actually very reassuring, especially as you didn't have fertility treatment, one of my biggest worries is I wont ever get to have a baby naturally, I know there are other ways but hearing someone else has, it's given me a bit of hope! It does annoy me with the 'oh your young' but the same as you I feel they are throwing more at me as maybe my body can take it? I feel the same sometimes as all my friends are settling down and getting married, having families etc and I'm just here like, hey I'm the cancer friend! It is without a doubt the hardest thing i have ever gone through mentally and physically, I thought I was quite a strong woman before this but I'm reduced to tears nearly every day! Did you have any ongoing treatment afterwards? 
 

Lou x

Glad it's given a little hope. I had chemo, lumpectomy, radiotherapy, herceptin and tamoxifen. I totally agree with the I'm the friend with cancer - can u believe I was actually introduced to a friends boyfriend! for me mortality wasn't really in my mind it was the fertility issue so I was referred to a Prof and he was amazing the injections I had were zoladex which stopped my periods throughout my chemo in the hope to protect my overies/eggs. When the time came to try for a baby I had a couple of miscarriages and was devasted but rather than go through normal gynaecologists I went back to my prof who referred me to a fertility dr and he performed a laroscopy and by the end of the month I was pregnant with my son (think my tubes needed a clear out!). I have everything crossed for you! x

Oh 100% the fertility side is the most devastating. I'm on the 4 weekly pellet injections of zoladex which is meant to send my ovaries to sleep but I'm still having periods so far so no idea! I'm on EC chemo which I've been told is pretty rubbish for your fertility but there's always a bit of hope! I think im having tamoxifen after chemo is finished, did you have many side effects with it? I'm so sorry you went through miscarriages, that must have been really tough! It honestly warms my heart that you have 2 children, it's like the prize for having to go through the battle ️ 
 

Lou x

Yes I definitely felt blessed that I could have two. I can't remember what the side effects could be of tamoxifen but only really gave me hot flushes so after all the chemo and everything they were a breeze and didn't really bother me. I can't remember what chemo I had but know I had 30% at a lower dose and 70% at higher dose, they said I could do this as was shrinking to allow for a lumpectomy. I'd not been with my now husband long before I was diagnosed so hadn't spoken about kids until treatment but then as soon as I was given the green light to try we did and I had my first just before I turned 32.

im glad I've given some hope to you as I don't know what it's like now but when I was going through this there wasn't really much support in the way of afterwards and kids etc as my onc was only interested in the cancer which I totally get and am grateful for but I wanted to know what my life would be like.

x

Ah I suppose any side effects of hormone treatment after dreaded chemo will be nothing in comparison! That's so lovely he was there to support you! Honestly your replies have really given me a much needed boost, it's just so hard sometimes to see past what's happening here and now and all the doctors care about is giving you the all clear, which I get, but sometimes you just want to know how it'll shape your future! Thank you so much

Lou x

Hi, i was diagnosed in June and had a therapeutic mamoplasty to remove my tumor, they didn't get clear margins and 4 out of five limpth nodes were involved,

I've just finished chemotherapy and due to have tamoxifen from January 5th, a double mastectomy and total limpth node clearance on January 21st.

Definitely can relate to the 'cancer friend' and being young im 29 x