I didn't see many posts on breast cancer, just wondering if there is much info exchange or support of this website.  I am 36 yrs old and was diagnosed on Aug 3rd with Stage 2 breast cancer, my mother was 37 when she had it and is now a 13 yr survivor.  I am currently getting ready to have a MRI on Sept 4th and waiting gene testing to decide on the surgery that is best for me.  I welcome any feedback or info.    

Hi Dawn,

I too was just dx on 6/26.  I am 44, very strong family hx of bc.  My sister is 50 and a 10 yr survivor.  She started out with a lumpectomy and a few yrs later had a mastectomy.  I didn't wait around for the MRI or gene testing I just decided to go for the mastectomy.  Also lymph nodes removed.  My biopsy had shown it to be cancerous but testing after surgery showed no cancer in lymph nodes.  It was the best decision for me.  I could go thru a mastectomy and recovery without almost missing a beat.  I did start my first of 6 cycles of chemo on Fri Aug 31----now this is definately what will separate the women from the girl......it is so not fun.....not that anything since 6/26 has been.  I had a mastectomy July 13.  My good thoughts will be with you, blessing to you.  Margo  

Hi Dawn,

I've been cancer free almost 4 years (stage 2a), went through surgery lumpectomy and 11 lump nodes removed.  (first in my family)  My only mistake was, I babied my arm for several weeks following surgery (keeping it in the sling the doc gave me) and then I got a frozen shoulder.  That was very difficult doing 1 hour of physical therapy everyday for 10 months.  Unfortunately, when I went thru chemo, I totally lost my appetite and lost 30 lbs. by the end of my 8th treatment.  So, my best advice is try to gain weight before surgery, just in case you don't feel much like eating.  And, if you have to go thru chemo, be sure to drink plenty and plenty of water, especially the day of treatment.  It helps flush that poison out of your system.  My month of radiation was a breeze.  I don't even have a red rash from it.  I wouldn't let the technicians put those dumb tatoes on my breast to make their job easy so they would have to mark the spot with marker and sometimes re-measure.  I just didn't want to have to look at it the rest of my life.  My thoughts & prayers are with you.  Take care!   Ruth

HI Dawn I just composed a long posting and lost the entire thing...gone in a second. I discoverd a large lump in my breast in late May, of course late Friday evening. Off to my GP Monday she, as I, fearred BC. She sent me out to have a Mammo and US ASAP. When compared to last year's "clear" mammo, you woudl have to be blind not the see the difference. I had a lump the size of a golf ball. I quickly had an excisional biopsy, which returned the dx of BC. I was immediately referred to an oncologist that was terrible. She ordered PET, CT and bone scans, but insisted on starting me on chemo, before surgery. I started TC, and last Friday completed my third, and last, treatment. My new oncologist informed me that was not the procedure he would have done, but as it woudl take apporximately 3-4 weeks to have my surgery, he wanted my to move forward with this last treatment. I will be having surgery (bilateral and reconstruction) on Sept 26th. After I will have more chemo but this time it will be TAC. My mother and paternal grandmother both died of BC. So I had gene testing completed last year. It came back clear, no cancer gene. I thought everything would be okay, then this hit. Then to my surprise my Dr was notified that I do indeed have the BC gene, but a very rare form that has only appearred in 14 families, 11 in the Venice area. My MATERNAL grandmother's home town. She apparently never had BC, but as she was very ill for a number of years prior to her death, we cannot be sure. I wish you all the luck in your treatments and a long healthy life. Jean