Reading through so many posts on this site, I am truly amazed at how many of us ‘youngsters’ are affected by bc, it is really scary, I haven’t got any family history so was totally blown away by my diagnosis and thought the hospital was just being over precocious. I am still in shock and feel as if this is happening to someone else - wish it was!- You all sound so positive so I am encouraged by that.
BTW- is anyone else fed up with people saying “well if you look like Kylie after this…”
Hi crazy cat lady
Yes, a lot of us do sound positive and, once you’ve got used to it, you probably will too. Its an awful illness to have but the treatments work in most cases. I’ve been out the other side for 5 months now, so it can be done. I know what you mean about Kylie. It’s a glib thing for people to say and they probably think you haven’t heard it before. I also hate “it’s only hair, it’ll grow back” Well you try it then! I feel like shouting!
Julia xx
I was dx at 34 years of age and with no family history of any cancers. Unfortunately it is fairly common in us younger ones although unless you have been dx, you dont realise this. My GP was so shocked when she found out that the lump she pressumed benign was actually cancer, that she phoned me to see how i was!
But i just wanted to let you know that this was over 2.5 years ago, and although life will always be different, it does get close to normal again.
My youngest was 21 months when i was dx, and now hes just started school.
All the best
You will become more positive. I had 3 young children when I was diagnosed at 34, and decided not to waste my treatment year but enjoy the life that I had. I had a multitude of headscarves to match my outfits, and turned it into a fashion statement. It’s been nearly 3 years now, and my youngest has doubled in age. Once you get past the shock, you can and will cope. Good luck.
Thank you all for your positive feedback, my surgery is tomorrow, and I just want to get that first ‘hurdle’ over with.
I have 2 boys who are almost grown up!(well teenagers), and they are keeping my spirits up, I’m just worried that my dx hasn’t quite hit home with them yet.
Thanks again for your support x
I too have been feeling concerned about the apparent rise in the number of younger women affected. I am 44 (just scraping in the younger category!) but also have a 4 year old daughter so very much feeling the effects of the impact as a younger woman. My main question is why they aren’t reducing the age of automatic mammograms if there is such a rise of incidence now. The obvious simple answer is of course money but surely it would be cheaper in the long run if they caught it earlier as treatment would cost less And looking at the really cynical side more of us would be around to keep paying taxes!!! My mum asked at a Macmillan stand & they did say it is harder to detect in younger women but I bet in a few years they will start doing it younger. I had no reason to think this could happen to me as have no family history etc but if called I would have gone to a standard screening just like a smear test & MAY have caught it a bit earlier before it has spread to my lymphs. I’m still lucky to have found it, purely by luck, when I did as still fairly small 3cm but waiting for results for full understanding of how far it has gone & how many nodes affected.
It is good to know that others are feeling the same thing. When I walk into my surgery there are posters aimed at over 50’s but nothing aimed at us younger ones. Like all of you I am discovering it does appear to be common.
I had went to my GP six months previous to my dx and asked for an health mot as my family all suffer from angina, thyroid issues and high cholesterol and my mother recently had thyroid taken out. They did a series of blood test and all came back good. Not once did doc ask me - do you check your breasts. Prevention and early detection has always got to be better than cure and whilst it may cost more it will save in the long run as with my treatment now I must be costing the NHS a huge sum.
Worryingly my GP also thought my lump was a cyst and told me it was nothing to worry about because of my age (36) and gave me the choice to go the clinic - ‘I will refer you if you want me too’ I am so glad that my mum was sensible and said to go otherwise like many women out there I could have taken the GP’s word and walked away, told no one and my stage 1 grade 3 cancer would now be a different dx!
I would really like to try and raise more awareness for younger women without scare mongering. It does seem stats are not accurate. If you read on here about the amount of older women who have been diagnosed with large tumours - how many of those actually had it for years when they were younger???
Hi bells,
I agree with you about raising awareness. I had never been asked by a single health prof if I checked my breasts. I think they should discuss it with u when u are at your smear test appointment at least. Also during any contraception consultations perhaps? My dx sounds similar to yours , stage 1, grade 3, weakly er positive.
I am 36 too.
Vickie
Hi Vickie
You are right, during smear tests and whilst receiving contraception would seem obvious times to raise the questions.
We do have a similar dx although I am highly er+ 8 out of 8, which is great from treatment point of view but not so good in terms of having children in the future. I have seen you post elsewhere on the site - are you through all your treatment now? How has it all gone?
Isobel
Why don’t they just offer to examine you fully when you have a smear? mammograms are only every 3 years like a smear so at least you’d get checked every 3 years & if they showed you what to do at the same time I think you’d have more confidence in doing it yourself as well. leaflets & TV are all very well but there’s no substitute for someone physically showing you & how long would it take - 5-10 mins tops & how many lives/cost would it save!!!
Oh dear I can feel myself getting all campaigny about this which I swore I wouldn’t but now I’m affected I think it is so important. I just keep on at all my friends now to check & I’m not going to shut up about it
Absolutely right millykins. I have lost count of the amount of times my friends have all said, I don’t know what I am feeling for they feel lumpy anyway. I was the same - no idea what I was doing, was just luck that I happened to feel my pea size lump and even then I wasn’t sure if it was normal or not.
The sad thing is and I am sure this has been your experience too that it takes for one of the girls in the group i.e us to get it to make everyone else aware. At least that is one good thing - all my friends are now checking. So many have assumed I have a family history too and this is a huge misconception - I shared it. Never thought I could get BC as no one in my family has had any form of C ever - its all strokes and heart issues!
Hi bells,
I’m 36 too, never really checked myself as I thought I was too young to ever get BC, especially with no family history, totally by chance that I found my lump and went to the doc’s - who told me it was nothing, as I was too young!! I really think it should be promoted for young women to check their breasts, I work in a school and know that boys are given a couple of lessons to show them how to check their testicles for abnormalities, while the girls are given contraceptive advice!
HI Bells
Yes everyone assumed I had it in my family too. My mum had cysts so I thought it was that but still went immediately & got a 2 week referral & thank god I did!! Thing is I am sure I felt them a few weeks before & felt nothing untoward but the lump was 2 cm so how could I have missed it then - just had no idea what to feel for then found it by accident when brushed arm against it & then when I went they found enlarged lymph as well which I still hadn’t noticed so I just thought I was really C**P!!
I was 41 when diagnosed in Feb. Ended up having mx and also having to cancel my wedding booked for April. Like a lot of you, my gp dismissed it as a cyst as i was “too young” to have cancer. I requested to see a specialist (very unlike me but gut instinct kicked in!) and thank god i did!! my daughter is 15 and goes to a girls school, she has enrolled some of the teachers to do an awareness for the rest of the school and has arranged a “pink Friday” for the whole school this week with the proceeds going to BCC. If one person can be saved from this awareness then thats one less person that has to have a year like the rest of us!!
deed
x
Deed that is fab. It only takes one to make a difference and if we can all make a little impact hopefully it will have a ripple effect.
Crazycat - great idea - it should start at school as Deed has shown. If boys are being taught then so should the girls. Early education could also dispel the myths too. The C word is scary and as such avoided until something happens. Education has taught everyone about HIV and whilst this is still a very scary disease people generally know it doesn’t necessarily mean a death sentence - the same could be done for C. Scary things make people stick their heads in the sand - education needs to promote a healthier more aware attitude.
I know that kids are taught about nutrition and the dangers of smoking, drinking and drugs and how they can put you at greater risk of getting C. But when do they tell you - you can be perfectly healthy and still get it! That was certainly my view. I thought that because I never smoked, ate healthily and exercised regularly that I was doing all the right things. My whole family smoke and suffer from all sorts as I have mentioned - I am considered the healthy one - who gets hit with it!!!
Deed meant to add pre my rant - sorry you had to cancel your wedding. Have you got a new date I hope?
Hi Bells28
I agree totally about it starting in schools. My daughter does a subject that covers drugs, drinking etc so this would be a perfect place to have some sessions on checking themselves, what to look for etc… i know my daughters friends are now more aware!
My wedding is now booked on the 1.1.11 on the beach in Barbados! Still waiting for a date to have my expander put in so hoping its within the next couple of weeks, otherwise its getting a little close and i refuse to let this disease make me cancel again!!!
d
x
What a great day - new year, new start! Barbados will be fab 
Sorry for interrupting - Just wanted to let you know about our breast health resources for teenagers breastcancercare.org.uk/breast-cancer-breast-health/breast-awareness/breast-m8s/
Deed - maybe your daughter or her teachers might them useful? You can order free packs here: breastcancercare.org.uk/healthcare-professionals/publications/breast-health/
Hi all,
This thread is so reassuring as I have been thinking I should have been checking more / more carefully. I’m 42 (which I believe counts as young) and found the lump myself. I had found it a few weeks earlier but I had thought BC lumps had to be near the armpit, whereas this was near the cleavage. I don’t know where I got the idea that the lump should be near the armpit, maybe the connection with lymph nodes? but as you’ve all said, nobody really tells you how to check your breasts, just that you should do it. I mentioned it to my doctor when I’d gone about something else. My doctor didn’t think the lump was anything and the student doctor who was with her that day couldn’t even find it.
As with others, the doctor referred me even though she didn’t think it was anything and I was told it was cancer and due to the size it would have to be a mastectomy. The lump turned out to be 4.3cm and a grade 3 (aggressive) cancer.
Deed, have a fantastic time in Barbados. I was there in 2004 (near Holetown) and it is a beautiful island with friendly people and fantastic sea food.