Hi sunny_sun
Thanks for posting.
It’s understandable you’re not keen to have more chemotherapy following your diagnosis of triple negative breast cancer with a BRCA1 mutation, and that you have concerns about going into a permanent menopause.
Chemotherapy and olaparib may be given following surgery for breast cancer to reduce the risk of the cancer returning in the chest area following mastectomy or elsewhere in the body. Final decisions about which treatments are recommended are based on your pathology results.
The best people to talk to about the reason for having further chemotherapy would be your breast care nurse or another member of your treatment team as they have all the information about your individual situation. You can call your breast care nurse and ask her to arrange an appointment for you.
Treatment to stop your ovaries from working is often recommended. It may include regular injections such as zoladex which may be reversible when treatment stops, or removing the ovaries which is permanent. People with an altered BRCA gene are at higher risk of developing ovarian cancer and so surgery to remove the ovaries and fallopian tubes may be recommended for this reason. You can read more about this on page 24 of our booklet Family history of breast cancer: managing you risk.
Ovarian suppression and early menopause may cause side effects including osteoporosis and heart health. Our booklet about Menopausal symptoms and breast cancer might be helpful and the menopause and cancer organisation produce podcasts on a variety of topics. Future Dreams also offer information and support on a variety of topics including menopause.
For most people the benefit of treatment usually outweighs the risks. Again, we would encourage you to talk to your breast care nurse about any concerns you may have as they can provide you with further information and support.
We offer support tailored specifically for younger women with primary breast cancer who are aged between 18-45 years. This includes our Younger Women Together events that are run face to face and online. This support offers the opportunity to meet and share experiences with other younger women and get expert information in a confidential space. The programme for both these events include managing menopause symptoms, fertility, intimacy after a breast cancer diagnosis, relationships, coping with change and uncertainty and a question-and-answer session with a healthcare professional. More information can be found on the links above.
You may also be interested in The Younger Breast Cancer Support Group (YBCSG) which is a private Facebook group run by young women for young women (18-45 years) who’ve had breast cancer. To join, go to Facebook and search ‘Younger Breast Cancer Support Group’ and send them a private message.
Some people find talking with another younger woman who’s been diagnosed with breast cancer helpful. Our Someone Like Me service can match you with a trained volunteer who’s had a similar experience to you. They’ll contact you by phone call or email to answer your questions, offer support or simply listen. You can ring the Someone Like Me team on 0800 138 6551 or email them at someone.likeme@breastcancernow.org so they can then match you to your volunteer.
You are also welcome to call our helpline if you would like to talk this through or have any further questions. The helpline team have time to listen, talk things through and signpost you to additional support and information if necessary. Your call will be confidential, and the number is free from UK landlines and all mobile networks.
The number is 0808 800 6000. If you have hearing or speech difficulties prefix our number with 18001 and the call will go through Relay UK. Our helpline has access to telephone interpreters if language translation is required.
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Best wishes
Val
Breast Care Nurse
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