breast cancer in your late forties

Parent Cafe
1

<p>A good friend and I just sent our only sons to an OOS college, close enough to come home for fall break, thanksgiving.</p>

<p>We are both almost 50, and both had mammogram scares this year.</p>

<p>Both had abnormal mammograms, which required a repeat/more detailed mammogram, as well as ultrasounds.</p>

<p>I was blessed. My followup mammogram was normal, and they were not going to even do the ultrasound. However, since the order was written, both I and my doctor insisted on having it. Luckily, everything was fine.</p>

<p>A couple of months later, my good friend had the same thing: abnormal mammogram, followup mammogram and ultrasound. Unfortunately, she was not so lucky. She had a biopsy, and was found to have breast cancer.</p>

<p>What is so scary about this is that two other moms who we’ve gone through school with, since middle school, got hit with breast cancer last year. One had a good outcome after treatment, the other is still in the midst of treatment.</p>

<p>Just wanted to get some feedback from this site as to how common this is, getting hit with breast cancer in your late forties, and what experience others have had with outcomes.</p>

<p>I know the Race for the Cure is such a big fundraiser and there seems to be so much work being done toward breast cancer research, I was wondering what treatments are out there, surgical options (ie, lumpectomy versus mastectomy), and what medications are available and working.</p>

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<p>There are so many factors and options in treatment. So much depends on stage, location (in the United States) and, dare I say it, your insurance. My first piece of advice, from my oncologist, do not go to the internet. Yes, there is testimonial advice, but not necessarily accurate, true or current. Find a doctor and/or hospital where you feel comfortable and cared for by all staff members. (The first oncologist that I went to, when I asked what would happen in chemo sent me a pamphlet. The oncologist that I went to had chemo class with a psychologist and a specialist.) Ask questions. Have your friends help.</p>

3

<p>Second what ellebud has written. I had a good friend who had stage 4 breast cancer & was given 50% chance of surviving 1 year. She’s been in remission and just passed her 5 year survival mark and heading for 10th year. She was in her 40s.</p>

<p>My sister’s good friend recently passed away from a “non-agressive, unlikely to recurr” breast cancer after battling it in three separate outbreaks in two years. She was in her mid-fifties.</p>

<p>Other friends were diagnosed with breast cancer & has had surgery, radiation & chemo & are now a 7+ year survivor–believe both were in their early 50s. Know a man who is a breast cancer survivor as well–he seems more isolated than all the female survivors, since I’m not sure they even have support groups or what they are offered.</p>

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<p>Cancer survival appears to be a very individual matter, based a lot on the person’s actual reaction to the treatment protocol. My husband saw his oncologist last week and was basically told he’s an outlier: complete response to lymphoma treatment drugs and then a ten-year remission. “We don’t see a lot of people like you, so I don’t have any real information for you. You might want to get another scan in the next couple of years. But that’s a lot of radiation…” It was left up to my husband what and when he did about a scan. </p>

<p>I disagree with the people who say not to go to the internet. Go to the reputable sites on the net. I like the Mayo Clinic website a lot and the various .gov cancer sites. The more you know about your treatment options, the more active you can be in your treatment. There may well be choices, and those choices make a difference in your recovery. (When I had my chondrosarcoma removed from my knee, I could choose between a mending plate or 3 to 4 months on crutches; choosing the mending plate meant that I walked out of the hospital the next day–but I had the plate removed in a second surgery a year and a half later.)</p>

<p>One thing that’s not obvious at first diagnosis is how important the information obtained at the biopsy is. As just one example: monoclonal antibodies–a very successful form of cancer treatment–target specific markers on the cell surface. Those markers vary from person to person. You need to know your markers. In my husband’s case, they tested for those markers–even though treatment wasn’t yet available. When a monoclonal antibody became available, we already knew it was an excellent possibility.</p>

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<p>I had two very close friends who were diagnosed in the same month, while in their mid-40s. One passed away in less than a year and the other is still going strong 14 years later, although she had a recurrence two years ago. I agree with the advice to find a good doctor, one you’re very comfortable with, and whose approach you trust. There’s nothing wrong with getting a second opinion. I feel for the women who have to worry about their health insurance in addition to all the worries surrounding the diagnosis.</p>

6

<p>I believe my friend has stage 1. I worry that she is just having a lumpectomy. When I was going for my follow up mammogram, I sat with a woman who had had one side mastectomy, and said she wished she had had both breasts removed. She lived in fear every time she had a mammogram that something would be found in the other breast. When the radiologist told me my mammogram was okay and I didn’t need the ultrasound, I looked at her and said, I really want to get the ultrasound as well. She nodded in agreement that she would feel better as well to have the ultrasound. I know the technicians and nurses told me it was a waste of money to have it done, but it was worth the money for the peace of mind. My friend’s doctor told her that the ultrasound saved her life. Her abnormality was detected via the ultrasound, and if she hadn’t had the ultrasound, it would have been missed.</p>

7

<p>Wow, I can’t get over that women are still dying from this disease. I thought there was so much progress made. Keeping all of you in my prayers.</p>

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<p>I was 38 and was diagnosed when I had my initial mammogram. I owe my life to the OB-GYN who told me that 38 was close enough to 40, just go and get a baseline. I had no lump, it was all the way through. The surgeon told me I could have self examined for years and never felt it. He thought it had been there for at least 8 years, judging by the size of the tumor. No family history either. After mastectomy, chemo, radiation, (and throw a 7 and a 3-year old into the mix) I spent most of a year on the sofa. I am happy to say that February 17, 2011 will be nineteen years! The devastation cannot be described. However, I am fine now, and it really seems like it happened to someone else. Time heals, I suppose.</p>

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<p>Does she have stage 1 or stage 0 (DCIS - ductal carconoma in situ)? If it’s the latter, the standard treatment is a lumpectomy and radiation. I have two close friends who have been through this, and another who was just diagnosed. If it’s stage 1, then treatment will depend on exactly what kind of tumor she has. My friends have found this to be an excellent resource: [url=<a href=“http://www.breastcancer.org/]BreastCancer.org[/url”>http://www.breastcancer.org/]BreastCancer.org[/url</a>]</p>

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<p>There’s also a chance your friend may have Stage 0 – like ductal carcinoma in situ, which is commonly found during magnified mammography and a biopsy. In that case, lumpectomy followed by radiation is a common treatment, with a nearly 100 percent cure rate.</p>

<p>I know mammograms, follow-up mammograms and biopsies are scary and stressful. But the best news is, when women have been getting these regularly and an anomaly pops up, it usually means that if it is cancer, it’s caught early on and the chances of long-term survival are quite good.</p>

<p>How someone proceeds with treatment is really an individual choice and many factors play into it, like family history, general health, etc. </p>

<p>I can’t decide if October being breast cancer awareness month drove everyone to get their screening mammograms, but I personally know at least three people who have had to get follow-up mammograms and biopsies in the past month or so (and one of them needed a lumpectomy). I guess the message is clear, if you are in your 40s, be diligent in getting mammograms so you can enjoy a world where CC was a passing fancy and your kids have graduated from college :o)</p>

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<p>No, it is stage 1. They will run pathology on the lump and go from there.</p>

<p>Fafnir, wow, my heart goes out to you. My friend also said, the radiologist saved her life. If not for the ultrasound, it would have gone undetected.</p>

<p>My sister had a lumpectomy when she was 17, but her tumor was benign. She had a similar scare to mine a few months before I did, where her OB sent her for both mammogram and ultrasound. Luckily, her results were the same as mine, no detectable problem.</p>

<p>Both my sister and I are obese, so our ample bosoms made for difficult mammograms.</p>

12

<p>My sister had stage 3 breast cancer when she was in her 20’s diagnosed right after giving birth. She survived but later had a second bout of a different cancer which sadly ended her life at a very young age. I have had many cousins, and all of my aunts diagnosed before the age of thirty. If your friend has a family history of breast cancer it is not uncommon to strike at a young age. Many woman who have breast cancer pre menapause have the estrogen produced type which can have a good outcome once they are put into menapause and begin treatment. Wishing your friend a healthy long life…breast cancer is not a death sentence as so many believed years ago. I am in my eight year cancer free and I am one of only a couple woman left in my family.</p>

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<p>I’d like to add that there are many different types of cancer that can originate in the breast area, some types are more treatable than others. That’s probably one reason why it is still such a prevalent disease.</p>

<p>@fafnir605 – That’s quite a story. I don’t understand the new guidelines that call for less frequent mammograms, I don’t see the downside of having them.</p>

14

<p>A couple of friends have had breast cancer, one in her 30’s. For this friend, I think doing copious amounts of online research and journal reading saved her life. She had a very aggressive cancer and a bleak family history of breast cancer, but her doctors wanted to follow the standard protocol, which wasn’t that great 20 years ago for people with her biological profile. </p>

<p>So she did a lot of reading, found out about tamoxifen (which was experimental at the time), got as much info as she could about the types of cancers it worked on, got extra tests for herself to see if she was a good candidate, and changed doctors to find one who would prescribe it for her. All went well for her. For me, it was very inspiring to witness her determination and her intelligent approach to gathering information and analyzing her options.</p>

15

<p>I am an information-seeking geek. I found this site: [Fast</a> Stats](<a href=“SEER*Explorer Application”>SEER*Explorer Application) that allows you to look at cancer rates by sex and age. Lots of fun…</p>

<p>The reality is that men still get more cancers at younger ages than men. And they die of them more often.</p>

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<p>When they came out with the “mamograms at 40 are not necessary” I about flipped. I know SO MANY WOMEN who have battled breast cancer and most were between 42-55 when diagonsed. I really have a feeling that with my generation it is not if but when. Three years ago, three friends (ages between 48 and 51) were diagnosed within a week.</p>

<p>My personal theory is that with our generation it is related to the nuclear testing/radiation/fallout that our mothers were exposed to, or that we were exposed to as little girls. No scientific back up…just my theory.</p>

<p>My mother always told us not to eat the snow - because of fallout. I heard an NPR story about this and it made my mothers nutty precautions seem a bit wise.</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.nuclearfiles.org/menu/key-issues/nuclear-weapons/issues/effects/readiness-to-harm.html[/url]”>http://www.nuclearfiles.org/menu/key-issues/nuclear-weapons/issues/effects/readiness-to-harm.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>There was radiation in the corn husks, but the cows ate the corn and we drank their milk, etc.</p>

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<p>My mom had breast cancer at 60, well after menopause, and she never had a recurrence. Her breast cancer was most likely related to xray therapy on her thymus that she received as a child (because she didn’t sleep much). It caused other health problems, as well.</p>

<p>My good friend was diagnosed two years ago at 50. While getting her ready for a mastectomy, the doctor discovered that she had skin cancer on her breast. She had to undergo treatment for the skin cancer for several months before they would do her double mastectomy. She had tons of chemo & an entire summer of radiation, and she finally was able to get implants to sort of put it all behind her.</p>

<p>In October, she discovered a hard spot on her breast, and her arm swelled up. Fortunately the doctor did not assume it was scar tissue or the like & sent her for tons of tests. It turns out the breast cancer is back. She started chemo last week. She is absolutely determined to beat it, but I also know that it is not easy the second time around. </p>

<p>I agree that there’s something in the air (or soil, or food …).</p>

18

<p>Montegut…</p>

<p>I have spent a LOT of time this year with my best friend who is fighting Stage 3 breast cancer. Many hours and hours of chemo and Herceptin treatments…(we bring our laptops along…LOL)</p>

<p>There are amazing new treatments out there. There are also many different types of breast cancer (I’m not expert), so each type has a different treatment. My friend’s is/was a very aggressive type. She has just been declared cancer-free but continuing to do the Herceptin treatments til Feb.</p>

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<p>Breast cancer in the late forties is not at all unheard of. I have done cancer research studies that enrolled breast cancer patients who were in their mid-20s. It’s pretty rare for women that young to get it but it is certainly possible.</p>

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<p>A 40 yr. old mother of three in my church was diagnosed with breast cancer in June. She had routine mammogram in January that came back clear. </p>

<p>Another friend of mine in her forties also had cancer less than a year after a clear mammogram. Ironically enough, she was seeing a Dr. about having breast augmentation surgery. He found the lump while examining her.</p>