Hi there,
It’s interesting isn’t it when we compare to our mother’s experience. My mother has always had amazing health - as did my Grandmother - and neither had BC. My mother took HRT for decades too. The difference being I think is that my mother was never overweight, (she was always slim and dieting), and she didn’t drink or smoke. She also had her children in her early 20’s which I believe is a thing.
My situation is that I have always carried extra weight since my late 20’s. As a Gen X I drank like a fish and smoked like a chimney in the 80’s and even though I gave up smoking 25 years ago, I still enjoyed a lot of wine! Also, all 3 of my children were born in my 30’s, my last at almost 40.
Moving forward and I was diagnosed with DCIS and IDC in my right breast at 55. I didn’t have a lump but calcifications were found on a screening mammogram.
I don’t think we should blame ourselves for the life we’ve led, but I do think we should consider why there is so much BC now, especially in younger women. There do seem to be patterns emerging, and we live differently to our mothers. Alcohol is known to be a high risk for many cancers. My GP showed me some stats when I was diagnosed and it seems that being overweight is a very high risk factor, especially for BC too. Look at our mother’s generation, they were never overweight. That at least is something we can do something about, but it’s hard and I’m struggling with it if I’m honest and it’s even harder when you’re on Letrozole.
Xx