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Ladies in their 30s

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  • chknfeet
    chknfeet Member Posts: 6
    edited April 2014

    Hi there! I was diagnosed shortly after my 38th birthday and am married, no kids.  We were trying for our 1st child, going through 1 year of various fertility treatments when we found a rash which we thought was related to the treatments. Rash got checked out, and behind the rash was a lump. So I guess you can say my rashy skin saved my life since otherwise I would have never gotten it checked out and wouldn't have had a mammo until 2 years from now.  I had my bilateral mastectomy 3/28, now waiting for FISH report since IHC came back with a score of 2+ for the Her2.    If that comes back negative, my MO will be sending out for Oncotype.  Anyway, looking forward to connecting.

  • clarrn
    clarrn Member Posts: 160
    edited April 2014

    Thanks inks.  I am on Emend,  Zofran,  and metoclopramide.  I will make it through.   I think once the heartburn is managed I will feel WAY better :)

  • MereMere
    MereMere Member Posts: 74
    edited April 2014

    Hey Ladies!!  Some local Memphis, TN BC warriors and myself started a support group.  If you are in the area and want to join look us up on Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/groups/BealeStBreastBudd...

  • optimi
    optimi Member Posts: 5
    edited April 2014

    Hi there I am 32 and was dx with IBC past December, in fact a day after my daughter's 3rd birthday party. At least we were able to enjoy the party :)

    I am almost done with my chemo sessions (only 4more to go, yay) and I am getting ready for the BMX followed by DIEP flap. Chemo had its ups and downs for me (A/C was rough) but it was doable and you all will get through it.

    It is great to meet you all although I wished it would be under different circumstances :)

  • Kellygrl77
    Kellygrl77 Member Posts: 7
    edited April 2014

    Hello young women!  I just check in from time to time here & there.  Was diagnosed 2 years ago last month in March 2012 at 34, turning 37 this month.  Pretty much diagnosed stage 4 from the beginning.  (Spots couldn't be tested which were discovered to lead to diagnosis of stage 4 right from the start).  Was to remain on chemo & never stop.  Well nothing is ever certain & am overjoyed to report have remained off chemo since last June & remained in remission.  Although not all too common for everyone with this stage & diagnosis anything is possible.  I had unfortunately went threw a pretty bad infection having to stop the chemo treatments with every test during that time wondering how quickly it would come back & spread needing to really start it back as soon as possible.  When finally clear of the infection was so relieved to still be clear and even more over joyed since stayed gone this long without it that I continuee to be able to remain off of chemo for however long I can.  last scans last month still clear.  Just one day at a time.  Enjoy today and whatever emotions you may go threw laughter is always good medicine as well.

  • clarrn
    clarrn Member Posts: 160
    edited April 2014

    Welcome optimi :) Congrats on being almost done chemo.  Just wanted to encourage you that I found surgery easier than this first AC so hope that helps!  

    Kellygrl77 - woohoo! Thanks for stopping by to give all of us that extra boost of optimism.  Much appreciated :)  I needed the one day at a time mantra today for sure!

  • MaryWear
    MaryWear Member Posts: 1
    edited April 2014

    Hello all!  I am so glad to have found a place with so many women in a similar situation.

    I am 35 years old and have 2 kiddos (6 & 2).  I was just diagnosed last week as Stage 2A.  Since they found cancerous tissue in my right axillary lymph nodes I have been getting tested all week to see if the cancer spread through the nodes.  I had a PET Scan this week and the Dr called to tell me everything looked OK, but there was just one little spot on my femur.  She didn't think it was an issue, but I got a call from a nurse today saying the radiologist wants to do a bone scan tomorrow to look at it again.

    I am HOPING & PRAYING that everything comes out OK.  It is so hard to just sit and wait.  I can definitely handle what comes my way and will fight hard.   I am just so scared that if something happens to me my kids will go through so many hardships (as I'm sure all you moms are!).  My husband is truly amazing, but when you lose a parent you lose a piece of yourself.  UGH!  Sorry to ramble, but this is just so new.  

    So glad to have found this site because sometimes it's just nice to vent.  Hoping recoveries for all of you! 

  • optimi
    optimi Member Posts: 5
    edited April 2014

    Kellygrl, your infection truly was a blessing in disguise. So happy to hear that things went so well for you! 

    Clarrn, thanks so much for your encouraging words. A/C is definitely a nasty one but hang in there, the 4 sessions will be over before you know it :)

    MaryWear, I am so sorry to hear about your diagnosis! I am praying for you that the spot is nothing! Please keep us informed.

  • Coopdizzle
    Coopdizzle Member Posts: 29
    edited April 2014

    We should totally start a group for them!

  • Coopdizzle
    Coopdizzle Member Posts: 29
    edited April 2014

    Found something for the guys! Maybe this would be good. http://blog.thebreastcancersite.com/showing-support-for-husbands-and-partners-of-breast-cancer-patients/?utm_source=social&utm_medium=bcsfan&utm_campaign=showing-support-for-husbands-and-partners-of-breast-cancer-patients&utm_term=20140418 OMG! That is a lllllong link! Just wanted to share. Side note, my hair is coming out. They were right 14 days on the dot!

  • h0pe
    h0pe Member Posts: 46
    edited April 2014

    Ladies - did any of you do Lupron/Zoladex shots if you had chemo? My MO said my periods should return because of my age so we didn't discuss shutting down my ovaries during chemo. I'm wondering if I should, though? For those of you who finished chemo, did your period come back pretty quickly? I'm 31. 

  • mckatherine
    mckatherine Member Posts: 180
    edited April 2014

    I finished chemo last year on 5/21, and could tell I was trying to ovulate in Sept.   Finally had a period in Oct.   my MO never mentioned ovarian suppression.   She's pretty hands-off with recommending stuff unless it's backed by a lot of research.   When I asked about my ovaries she said the tamoxifen would do its job, and that in 10 years when I'm done with Tamoxifen I'll want my ovaries still there and functioning.    (I'm 38).  

  • mckatherine
    mckatherine Member Posts: 180
    edited April 2014

    h0pe - there are a few ladies on the boards in a study where they're doing lupron / zoladex.   TwinmamaHeather is - but I can't remember who else.  She is active on the TriplePositive thread.   If you search for her using he search tool you could send her a private message and I'm sure she'd be glad to tell you more about it.  

  • lia13
    lia13 Member Posts: 28
    edited April 2014

    hi everybody!

    h0pe,

    I was initially given zoladex by my onc to protect ovaries while on chemo and there are a few other ladies I've seen here who used it too, with good results. I don't have any definitive answer on the result myself, as I continued with ovarian suppression after chemo and need a few more months to finish the 2 year suggested period with zoladex. I'm hopeful things will go back to normal after that. I'm 37, was 36 at dx. There is research/studies that indicate that ovarian suppression during chemo may protect the ovaries, but I don't have any links available at the moment.

    McKatherine, are you refering to the SOFT/TEXT trials about ovarian suppression as a treatment, or is it another study?  I would be very interested to get any more info I could about zoladex :-)

    take care!

  • mckatherine
    mckatherine Member Posts: 180
    edited April 2014

    yes - the SOFT trial.  I sent a PM to Heather - hopefully she'll come by soon and update on that!  

  • lia13
    lia13 Member Posts: 28
    edited April 2014

    thanks McKatherine! Smile

  • TwinMamaHeather
    TwinMamaHeather Member Posts: 103
    edited April 2014

    Hey there McKatherine and other ladies! :~) I have been taking a much needed hiatus from "the boards" in order to attempt to keep my sanity. :~)

    I am not IN the SOFT trial, I am just keeping up on it's progress. The SOFT trial has been ongoing for 10 years, it is comparing the following treatments in pre-meno women: 1) tamoxifen alone 2) tamoxifen + ovarian suppression 3) AI + ovarian suppression. They were supposed to have preliminary data about the results in December of last year, however, ALL women in the trial were doing better than expected {they try to reach a certain percentage of recurrences before they compile data} so they have extended the trial. This is GREAT news that, in general, it would appear that young women are doing well with these treatments! What this means though, is that they don't know yet which one of these options is "best" for pre-meno women and we will have to continue waiting for the preliminary results to figure it out.

    That said, I am currently receiving Zoladex injections {every 3 months} as well as taking tamoxifen. I have been told that I will be on the Zoladex for FOUR years and the tamoxifen for 10. I have read all of the horror stories relating to ovarian suppression by chemical means, but I am here to tell you that so far {says a prayer, knocks on wood, and throws salt over her shoulder} it hasn't been awful FOR ME. Sure I have the typical "when I get out of bed I feel like I am 94" feeling, but after about 3 minutes, I am really fine. I guess when the trial results come out, we will see what path my treatment will take.

    As far as taking Zoladex to protect the ovaries during chemo, I do know one girl who received injections during chemo and she did restart ovulation/ menstruation almost immediately after completing chemo and ceasing the zoladex ~ I'm not sure what the significance is of that. I was also told by my doctors that after I stop the Zoladex that I will have "a few years of normal" before going into permanent nature induced menopause.

    I'm not sure if that really helps anyone, but if you have any questions I would be happy to try and answer them. 

    Happy Monday All!

  • lia13
    lia13 Member Posts: 28
    edited April 2014

    hey TwinMama! thanks so much for posting, I'm waiting for the SOFT results with great interest. I was given zoladex for 2 years, and I'm only a few months away (yey!), but I may ask for another opinion on the length of zoladex, as I've read in these boards anything from 2-5 years and by then SOFT results should be available. As I'm also on tam, I was happy to read in a study that this combination in pre-meno women kind of has better outcomes in bone and endometrium health. I don't know what angles they're studying in SOFT other than recurrence, but that one (bone, endometrium) should be part of it, right?

    I, too, have tolerated this combination extremely well so far (with the occasional hiccupLoopy).

    Take care everybody! :-)

  • mckatherine
    mckatherine Member Posts: 180
    edited April 2014

    thanks, Heather!!  :)

  • lillaura22
    lillaura22 Member Posts: 7
    edited April 2014

    hi ladies - I just wanted to respond to h0pe since I didn't do any ovarian suppression and it seemed most of the responses were those who had. I finished chemo mid-January (ACT), my period didn't come back till last Tuesday so basically 3 months after I finished. Now it seems never ending I still have it. Much longer periods than I had before when I was on OCs. Now I have the copper IUD and on TAM. Just wanted to share! Have a great Tuesday!

  • lillaura22
    lillaura22 Member Posts: 7
    edited April 2014

    oh and I'm 32, was 31 when diagnosed

  • h0pe
    h0pe Member Posts: 46
    edited April 2014

    Thanks, lillaura22! I don't think I will add ovarian suppression to my chemo regimen. Just want to be done with chemo at this point. Will bring it up to my MO, though. We touched on the subject little bit before we found out I needed chemo, and I remember him saying with my age, I will most likely get my period again. 

  • clarrn
    clarrn Member Posts: 160
    edited April 2014

    Also no suppression for me, 90% likely to get my period back according to my doc.  No idea where the number came from. I am 30 getting DD AC then weekly Taxol.

  • budrfligal13
    budrfligal13 Member Posts: 105
    edited April 2014

    McKatherine, thanks for your post.....I NEEDED to read it today!  Im 38, 6 mos out of chemo and still no period. Gyn says not to worry and I have another appt with him today, ironically.  Thanks....

  • inks
    inks Member Posts: 57
    edited April 2014

    McKatherine  - I hope your exchange surgery goes well today and you get beautiful results!

  • h0pe
    h0pe Member Posts: 46
    edited April 2014

    Thanks for all your posts! 

    clarrn - how are you doing with chemo? I finished dd AC and am on to weekly taxol #3 tomorrow. ugh! 

    Did or are any of you getting hot flashes?! I don't know what else it could be....

  • budrfligal13
    budrfligal13 Member Posts: 105
    edited April 2014

    McKathering, Best Wishes today....and everyday.  

  • clarrn
    clarrn Member Posts: 160
    edited April 2014

    hOpe -  the first AC was atrocious,  nausea,  headaches, dizziness for solid 8 days...back in for IV fluids and on antibiotics.   Then 3 great days and back for round 2.  Happy to report with an extra litre of IV fluids after infusion, some med changes,  I feel 50% better than the last time!  Love to share that it is much better so far!  I expect to feel a bit worse after my neulasta, but I will get through it.   And now I am half way through AC   :)

  • h0pe
    h0pe Member Posts: 46
    edited April 2014

     clarrn - glad they changed your premeds! The taxol is definitely more tolerable, as most will say. Happy you're at the halfway point with AC. It really will go by. Enjoy your good "off" week! Fatigue and impending nausea were my worst symptoms with AC. My taste was also really off. However, with taxol so far, it's been manageable. Good luck with everything!  

  • mckatherine
    mckatherine Member Posts: 180
    edited April 2014

    thanks inks!  I'm home and feeling pretty well.  :)

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