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Breast Cancer (Expert Forum)
Age 29; lactating with Breast Cancer
Questions posted in the Breast Cancer Forum are answered by medical professionals from The Cleveland Clinic. Topics include Breast Biopsy, Chemotherapy, Hormone Therapy, Lumps, Lumpectomy, Lymph node dissection, Lymphedema, Mammograms, Mastectomy, Radiation Therapy, Reconstruction, Self Breast Exam, and Surgery.
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Age 29; lactating with Breast Cancer
by Kimberlie, Oct 16, 2006 12:00AM
I've recently written due to my own Birads 4 concerns (- for cancer); and now my beautiful 29 year old daughter was just diagnosed with BC.
She is the mother of a 1 1/2 year old that she is nursing. A rather large (feels size of quarter) tumor was recently felt in the right breast just above and off center of nipple. Biopsy proved it to be BC. She is having an MRI today and then removal by Friday. This must be extremely rare for her age. Surgeon who is head of the Breast Center said due to age this could be very aggressive and needs to be treated aggressively. My husbands sister was diagnosed at 33 and died at 38. They want to due the gene test.
I know we won't know more specifics until after Friday, but is it more difficult to treat younger women? How rare is this in someone her age. Thank you.
She is the mother of a 1 1/2 year old that she is nursing. A rather large (feels size of quarter) tumor was recently felt in the right breast just above and off center of nipple. Biopsy proved it to be BC. She is having an MRI today and then removal by Friday. This must be extremely rare for her age. Surgeon who is head of the Breast Center said due to age this could be very aggressive and needs to be treated aggressively. My husbands sister was diagnosed at 33 and died at 38. They want to due the gene test.
I know we won't know more specifics until after Friday, but is it more difficult to treat younger women? How rare is this in someone her age. Thank you.
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-RN,MSN-JS, Oct 17, 2006 12:00AM
Dear Kimberlee: Breast cancer is uncommon in women in their 20's and 30's but it certainly is possible. Breast cancers can have features that make them more aggressive in both young women and older women. These features of the tumor will become more clear after more is known about the tumor. Some of the features that will be evaluated will include the grade of the tumor, the estrogen and progesterone receptor status, the HER2 neu receptor status and others. This information will help to determine how aggressive the tumor is and to guide the types of treatment. Certainly, when a person this young is diagnosed, there is more concern about a hereditary component, especially when there are family members who have had breast cancer very young.
Moneu, I am so sorry to hear about what you've had to go through. I pray it will give you a long and full life with no recurrance. I am frightened for my daughter. She too is so young to have to face such possibilities. She wants to get though this, but really wants more children. I have been doing some research and found a group called, 'furtilehope.org' that I need to find out more about. I know this may seem odd to focus on her desire to have more children in the middle of a terrible diagnosis. But, she needs to be able to look ahead with hope. I wrote your email address down for her. Maybe she will need to talk. Thank You.
Is it normal to wait so long to begin chemo after a masectomy? I hope you get better news about the Oncotype. My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your little family.
That is an interesting point you made about my microcals. Honestly, with everything else going on it hasn't entered my mind. I think I will get the path report and send it to the friend I mentioned. Thank you for pointing that out.
The only thing I could think about was my children because we have no other family that could help take care of them. It is good she has you to help her through this. I thank God for my husband who has been my rock and my soft place to fall. I will be nine weeks out when I go to my next appointment and I was wondering the same thing to which I just posted that question on the other site I told you about. Lots of treatment info there also. And there are allot of ladies there who get pregnant after having cancer and treatments. Sorry to ignore that question while ago.
Just got the call. My Oncotype test was 20 1/2. Boarder line. At 25 they recommend chemo. Will know more when I met them Oct. 26th.
All we were told is that it probably started in the duct; is invasive and in the Sentinal node. I don't understand all of this yet, but our next app. with surgeon is Tuesday afternoon. I hope we know the details that will determine her treatment.
Right now she is frightened. She doesn't want to go through the chemo, but knows now it is needed due to the lymph involvement. I don't know if she will have a mastectomy or not. She wants to have at least one more child, so that is also a factor in her decisions.
The doctor lent her Dr. Joy's book which was helpful, but an earlier edition. I will get her the newest book, but does anyone recommend another book that has a whole lot of HOPE in it? At 29 we don't want something that is only talking 5 years or even 10 years. I know everyone understands what I am saying.
This is heartbreaking.