Young Women Beware! Breast Cancer is an Option for You!

Today, one of us will be diagnosed with cancer. This time, it may be you! A little over two years ago, it was I who received the dreaded news.

At the age of 33, and although I am the daughter of a breast cancer survivor, cancer was the last thing on my mind. Mothering my then three year old daughter, preparing for my husband’s deployment to Iraq, and fighting to keep my career going took most of my time, and it seemed I had so much time to move on, step by step, living and establishing the life my family and I envisioned for ourselves.

Then I found a lump. Then the mammogram, the ultrasound, the biopsy, and the results. Cancer. At the age of 33, I was diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (IDC).

At the age of 33, three months, and 16 days, my breast was removed, and a small device known as the port was implanted in my chest, right above my heart. For the next two years, in an effort to rid my body of cancer, fluids would enter and leave my body via that port. Some time later, I realized that I probably will not be able to have more children, and by age 34, the remaining breast was removed. To top it all, sometime through treatment, I lost my job. Life, as I knew it was no longer; neither were the lives of my husband and child.

Those unusual cells that my own body produced took me on an incredible journey through numerous obstacles. Thanks to the support of my family, my friends, and some warm- hearted strangers, I got rid of the cancer, and I am now wiser, healthier, and stronger then I have ever been.

Being diagnosed with cancer has adverse physical and emotional effects, and each of us will experience the disease differently. Being diagnosed with breast cancer at a young age may be especially challenging as it is often unexpected and because most breast cancer patients and survivors are older than you. This emphasizes the need to spread the word around! Though less than 7% of women with the disease are younger than 40, young women can and do get breast cancer.

Fighting breast cancer at a young age can feel very lonely as most breast cancer patients and survivors are older. In addition, it seems there is less research and fewer studies that focus specifically on younger women with breast cancer. Younger women with breast cancer also face issues like fertility which may not be relevant to women of the older group.

My journey was long.

I remember the first time I looked at my chest after the mastectomy. A devastating sight! The area on which my daughter rested her head on so many occasions was now grotesquely asymmetrical. The breast completely gone, replaced by a lengthy scar.
Then came chemotherapy. I recall the awkward sensation as the first bag of chemical was administered. It wasn’t painful, and I didn’t feel sick right away. My body didn’t recognize the invasion. This happened several hours later in my living room as my stomach rejected the intravenous attack into a bucket that became a close companion in months to come.
A couple of weeks later, I lost my hair. My long, thick hair fell out in great clumps, and it was a matter of days before I became completely bald. I once heard the phrase “The bald and the breastless.” I can’t remember where.

I made the decision to fight the cancer

when I set to remove my breasts and undergo chemotherapy. It wasn’t a tough decision to make, and taking one glimpse at my daughter reminded me why I must fight! Living up to my decision was much more challenging, but I discovered that beyond the obstacles, even cancer has a positive side.

In the last two and a half years, I learned to appreciate that life can be over before one is ready for it. I learned that I have to have a plan B even when I don’t have a plan at all. I developed a new perspective on dealing with difficulties, and I found that I’m strong. I learned to ask for help, and I had to work hard to learn to accept it. I learned that not everything is in my control, but I stayed in control of what was happening to me. I learned to allow the support of my family, friends, and strangers fulfill my depleted energy source, and I did it! I found the light! Two years, new breasts, and several surgeries later, I am here to remind you to get checked!
It is important to emphasize that early detection usually translates into higher chances of survival. Get to know your breasts. Learn how to do a breast self exam and do it at least once a month (you can learn how to do it online, or you can inquire with your doctor). In addition, make sure to schedule regular physical exams and mammograms. Consult your doctor to decide how often you should have a physical and/ or a mammogram. Your doctor will advise you based on your age and circumstances.

Most importantly get checked! You are your first line of defense and a simple self breast exam may save your life.

It saved mine!