Why did I have breast cancer?

[HazelLynn]

Hi, I had DCIS 1mm of microinvasion - lumpectomy - clean mastectomy and lymph nodes - good prognosis.  My mother died of breast cancer.  Now, what I dont understand is - according to my doctor, I didnt inherit the breast cancer gene from my mum, I dont have the gene, so cannot pass it on to my children, so why did I get it? - could it have been from a bump years ago? I didnt drink alcohol, was/am fit and health, eat a good diet, any suggestions please - I just want to understand everything about it and questions keep popping up in my mind.
Thank you.
Hazel

[HazelLynn]

What a beautiful way of looking at things, and how true.
Hazel

[lhughes]

You are just lucky.  :)

We could "why" the day away and all we would do is waste a day.  Life isn't fair sometimes.  

Enjoy what remains.  As we say here in the programming world "you never know when you'll get hit by that bus, SO WRITE EVERYTHING DOWN!"  Well, that's for instructions on how to do things.  But you understand that today is the gift, tomorrow is only a promise.

We're here for each other, getting sent through things before others so that those that follow will have a hand to hold.

[HazelLynn]

Hi Helen,

Thanks for your reply, makes good sense, hope you are doing well.  I am fine, have a good prognosis and glad that it was all caught early - but the whys never seem to go away - I suppose its a part of the process that happens before we move on completely.
Hazel

[Whatawoman]

I am sorry for your diagnosis and understand you being full of questions.

Having the breast cancer gene increases your risk of getting breast cancer -  

It is not only people with that gene that get breast cancer -  cancer is indescriminate -  it does not care about gender, age, cuture, religion. Most people have no idea why they got cancer... I doubt you will ever find the answer -  there are studies that talk about injury causing cancer to flare up but again non conclusive I think.

Smoking, drinking, taking drugs and a bad diet, being obese or unfit just increase your risk factors they don't gaurantee you will get any illness jsut as being a non smoker, drinker, drug taker, having a great diet, being in your BMI range and being super fit does not guarantee you wont get illnesses.

Focus on inner strength and getting through the treatment and recovery time ahead and realise that nfortunatley some questions don't have deffinative answers -  sorry I can't offer any other advice

Best of luck with it all
Helen