Breast cancer at 30 years old

But it's good that they found it early. You're lucky. I'm so scared. I have a small lump in my breast. I went to a mammologist, he felt it and said yes, there is one, it's movable. But on the ultrasound, there's nothing, or rather, fibroadenosis or something like that. I had ultrasounds done twice at different clinics. The mammologist said, like, everything's fine, I guarantee it, don't worry. But I'm still scared. And was everything fine on your ultrasound? Was the lump large to the touch? Why did you even decide to remove it if everything was fine? They didn't even send me for a mammogram or a tumor marker, saying there were no indications. How can there be no indications if he himself said there's a small lump?

Pull yourself together and don't be afraid. The surgery isn't that complicated. And you're at stage 1. I had one breast removed with simultaneous reconstruction. Initially, they diagnosed stage 1. After immunohistochemistry, it turned out to be stage 2a because one lymph node was affected. Then I had 4 rounds of chemotherapy, and now I'm on hormone therapy for 5 years (but that's for hormone-dependent tumors). It's okay—I'm living my life and have no plans to die anytime soon.
Good luck to you and a speedy recovery!

I sympathize with you, but try to look for the positive aspects! Stage 1 breast cancer is highly treatable! It's a great stroke of luck that it was detected in time! Everything will be fine—your breast shape will be restored, you'll complete the treatment, and in a couple of years, you'll forget all about it, like a bad dream.

Tumor markers for breast cancer are crap, they're not very informative. They can be elevated due to a common cold. For your own peace of mind, get a mammogram done privately.

But will it definitely show up on a mammogram? Recently we were raising funds for a girl's treatment, she already had stage 4. So, initially she did both ultrasound and mammogram and consulted with 2 mammologists, and both told her - it's mastopathy, give birth and it'll go away. And 4 years later, during pregnancy, they found stage 4 with metastases. So scary.

My sister went through it. They discovered it in the last month of her pregnancy. She was 31 at the time. It was an intraductal hormone-dependent tumor, so it wasn’t diagnosed right away. At first, after the biopsy, they even staged it as stage 3. We were in shock!!! But, thank goodness. She gave birth, then started chemo right away, followed by surgery. During the surgery, they downgraded it to stage 2B. Then came radiation and more chemotherapy. It’s been almost two years now. Soon, she’s scheduled to have the other breast removed and get implants (back then, beauty wasn’t a priority). Stay strong! Everything will be okay!

Well, I don't know. In my case, an ultrasound showed a tumor, and even that was questionable, like what kind of tumor it was. The mammogram didn't confirm malignancy. But they still did a biopsy just in case, which confirmed cancer. And the doctor I later went to for treatment (at the Blokhin Cancer Research Center) said she could even tell by touch that it was cancer. She explained that the tumor had irregular edges, which is a sign of malignancy. Of course, they didn't make the final diagnosis just by touch—they did another ultrasound, mammogram, and biopsy.

Most importantly, don't lose hope—breast cancer can be beaten.

Got it, thanks. Wishing you good health. I'm going to see a gynecologist soon, it's a routine checkup. I'll mention the lump, and we'll see. Even though the mammologist said everything was fine and to come back in a year, I'll keep an eye on it. As I understand, it's not always possible to determine 100% right away and just relax. You have to monitor it, it's unpleasant, but what can you do.

I felt a small lump, about 2 cm long, very movable, didn't hurt, on ultrasound - 95% fibroadenoma. I was examined by 2 very good practicing mammologist oncologists - both surgeons, one is the head of the oncology surgery department, the other has his own mammology clinic (with an oncology profile). Both said - 100% fibroadenoma, doesn't even feel close to cancer. I had a biopsy (I paid for it because they refused at the oncology clinic, said there was no indication). The biopsy also showed benign. I removed it because I didn't want to carry something extra inside and monitor and wait. Plus my family history isn't great. When the doctor removed it, he also said by appearance it's fibroadenoma - all good, don't stress. They know what cancerous tumors look like by sight. But the analysis that takes 10 days already showed cancer. The tumor itself was 1.5 cm * 0.8 cm on ultrasound and when removed.

I see. You also had family history, so that makes sense why it needed to be done. Mine isn't as clearly palpable and seems like not such a big lump yet. Is that analysis histology? Is that when they look at slides? Did you take those slides anywhere else for confirmation?

Thank you so much! They also preliminarily diagnosed me with stage 1 based on tumor size, and the lymph nodes are still to be checked—I hope it'll be normal, no suspicions by touch or ultrasound for the lymph nodes. The tumor, from the data so far, has no vascular invasion, no skin invasion, they removed little in terms of thinking it was a fibroadenoma, and there's no tumor growth at the resection margins either, the doctor says these are all good signs. Now we'll hope the tumor is hormone-dependent per IHC. Tell me, did they put in an implant right away? Was there pain after the surgery?

Yes, on slides. They're still finishing up something there, and then I want to have the slides reviewed again. But it won't affect my decision to remove both breasts and get implants; maybe something will change in terms of further treatment strategy.

Wishing your sister good health!

Thank you!

Got it, wishing you health and good luck. Still, it's very lucky that it was detected early. I read that at stage 1, 95% are cured. I think everything will be fine.

I encountered the same problem two months ago.
I decided that while I still have insurance, I should get checked by all the doctors.
I had a mammogram done last, and they called me to say I needed an ultrasound, and if they decided a biopsy was necessary, they would do it right away.
Long story short, the biopsy showed cancer.
On August 17th, I had surgery—they removed 1.4 mm, and the tumor itself was 1.2 mm.
Before the surgery, they took a biopsy from the lymph nodes.
The surgery took about 1.5 hours, and then I slept for half an hour—I couldn’t open my eyes.
The doctor told my husband that everything went well.
We left home at 3 o’clock and arrived there at 8 a.m., but they took me in at 9, and until 10, there were various procedures.
Anyway, I was very worried about the lymph node results—yesterday, I saw the doctor, and everything is fine.
In two weeks, I need to visit two doctors—one is a radiologist, and I didn’t quite understand the other.
They will decide whether to do chemotherapy or radiation.
After that, I’ll start looking for doctors who accept my insurance. For now, everything is being covered.
And what’s most interesting is—I’m not worried at all.
Before this, I always thought this thought of illness and death would be in my head 24/7, but no.
The full recovery rate is 97%.
Let’s hope we fall into that percentage.
And yes, read Psalm 90 in the Gospel.
It helps.
And the Lord will not abandon us.
Talk to God all the time.

Author, I wish you patience and a speedy recovery! I also walked around with a tumor until the last moment and suffered a lot. I lost a lot of weight, my hair turned gray, and I'm only 30 too.
You have a little one, someone to be strong for! I faced this problem alone. Take this as a temporary trial, you'll see, everything will be fine!

Excuse me, 1.4 mm or cm? Did they remove a sector? They only removed the tumor for me, and now we're going to do an extended surgery—removing both breasts and placing implants. Let's hope that all people facing this problem—will overcome it and be healthy!

Sorry, was yours malignant too?

I just looked at the 14 mm. They made a small incision, probably 2 cm, and that's it. Although before the surgery and all the tests, the doctor said that the breast might need to be removed.

I also have a tumor of 14 mm and a 2 cm incision, but my doctor and I decided to remove both breasts and get implants. Have you already had IHC done? Is your tumor hormone-dependent? They're only doing IHC for me now, and then it'll be clear what treatment will be after the second surgery, which is already scheduled for Tuesday.

Yes, I got the implant right away. They took a flap from my back because there wasn't enough tissue on the breast. After the surgery, my arm hurt—it was hard to lift it. But that's pretty much the case for everyone—you need to start exercising the arm right away. There wasn't much pain at the mastectomy site; I don't even remember if there was any at all. If it had hurt a lot, I would have remembered. It's just that it takes a long time to get used to the loss of sensation in the armpit—that's because during the surgery, when removing the lymph nodes, nerve endings get damaged.

Thank you so much for answering! Did you wear compression garments? For how long?

Yes, I did. For about a month and a half for sure. Then I gradually started taking it off for a few hours because it felt uncomfortable without it. And I recommend consulting with the surgeon in advance about the size, so you can buy a spare set of garments. I only had one. They put it on me right after the surgery—the surgeon said they order this garment along with the implants. And I didn't know where to buy it. So I washed it and ran to my neighbor's to dry it—she has a south-facing balcony, thankfully it was summer. I don't remember the brand exactly... maybe Mirana or Marena... google it. I can't check because I gave mine to a friend—she's having delayed reconstruction.

Yes, exactly Marena - I looked it up online

I also have a tumor of 14 mm and a 2 cm incision, but my doctor and I decided to remove both breasts and get implants. Have you already had an IHC test? Is your tumor hormone-dependent? I'm only getting the IHC done now, and then it will be clear what treatment I'll need after the second surgery, which is already scheduled for Tuesday.

I don't know what IHC is.
My doctor told me that I had a negative result for something and that it needs to be repeated, but she thinks it will also be negative.
I don’t understand everything because English is my second language, and not all terms are clear to me.
I understand the basics, but I always want my husband to be there so it’s clearer.
My posts 17 and 21—I wrote them at work, now I’m at home.

Yes, but I had it removed on one side. Not in Russia, though. I probably won't be able to breastfeed anymore, but I do want a child. Wishing everyone good health

Get an MRI, it's the most accurate diagnostic, best for the body, to make sure there are no other issues anywhere else.

Thanks, I'll think about it.

Author, where was it made?

Wishing you health and happiness... stay strong, everything will be fine.

Whole body - that's PET-CT.

IHC is an immunohistochemical examination.
I can, of course, only guess what your doctor told you preliminarily about the negative... Sometimes there is a triple-negative tumor. That is, the tumor is not sensitive to estrogens, progesterones, and the her2neu protein. For hormone-dependent tumors, chemotherapy is first prescribed and, if necessary, radiation, then hormone therapy, which involves suppressing the body's production of progesterone and estrogen. With a positive reaction to her2neu (when it's +++) they administer, in addition to other chemo drugs, Herceptin, which suppresses the action of this protein. If the reaction to her2neu is ++, then an additional examination is done... If there is no reaction to all these hormones and proteins, then only chemotherapy and radiation are prescribed... Well, that's just me, in my own words.

Girls, I'm reading your posts and crying. How early cancer comes for some. My sister was diagnosed with isolated cancer cells in '96. She had surgery. In '99, she passed away. She was 37. After the surgery, she needed to take care of herself, but she had three children to look after. And she lived in another city.
Now, both medicine and diagnostics are different. I wish everyone to overcome this and live on healthy, to raise their children and see their grandchildren. Take care of yourselves!

Under the stars of her2neu - commonly known as *****/*****/r.

Yes, *****... *****.......*****.....r.... they call this protein

they won't let it through, no matter how hard you try... anyway, her - just read it in Russian like that.

Магда, спасибо вам за разъяснение,
но я уже писала, что особо не переживаю, и будь что будет.
Сегодня на работе мой знакомый доктор прочитал мои бумаги и сказал, что он рад, так как всё намного лучше, чем он предполагал, но тем не менее он сказал, что, возможно, будет и химия.
На мой вопрос "почему?"
он сказал: "Чтобы быть уверенным, что всё погибнет".
Сегодня вечером он будет говорить со своими друзьями, которые занимаются этими вопросами (играет в бридж вместе).

I also had an MRI done, but after the MRI, they recommended that I get an ultrasound of my right breast as well. Thank God, everything there is normal. So, does that mean ultrasound shows things better?

Why chemotherapy will happen, the doctor will answer more competently. If you want my assumptions (yes, exactly assumptions, because I'm not a doctor!), then write the IHC results.

It's quite possible (but again, these are my assumptions) that they did an additional test for her2neu - that's when it's preliminarily ++ - then there are doubts about whether this protein reacts to the tumor, an additional FISH test is done to confirm whether Herceptin needs to be administered or not.

Author, it's good that everything was discovered in time. My neighbor at the dacha, who's already quite elderly, had her breast removed over 20 years ago—also detected early. She's living well, healthy and energetic to this day. Everything will be fine for you too, stay strong, don't overthink it. Look at Angelina—she removed both breasts just because of poor heredity...

Now only tomorrow, because I left all the papers at a friend's place and didn't make copies.
Thank you for your sympathy.

Always make copies of all your tests and reports! Because the originals can get lost, or be in your medical file, which isn't given to you. Keep everything about yourself with you! Although they should always give you an official discharge summary to take home.

In the end, you might decide to consult another doctor—but you have nothing on hand... so what? I practically know my diagnosis by heart... though I have both the original and copies—and not just one copy, because the oncologist where I live needs a copy, the chemotherapy doctor also needs a copy... for disability paperwork—again a copy... and so on.

Магда, у меня всё есть, но я отдала своему другу-врачу, который обсудит мои результаты с коллегами. Завтра я заберу их у него. Он не онколог, но раньше был нашим семейным врачом, и мы до сих пор дружим. Он мне очень помогает во всём.

Только что позвонили из офиса лаборатории, где делали УЗИ и биопсию — они выслали два счёта на 850 долларов и спрашивают, получила ли я их. А в моей ситуации волноваться нежелательно. Я сказала, что ничего не делаю без назначения врача, а значит, страховка должна всё покрыть. Всё выяснили, но я всё равно перенервничала.

Now I'll be worrying about paying for the surgery, and then I need to find someone who will take my radiation insurance, which is $1,000 per session, and I need 6 weeks of 5 days each.
Basically, being sick is an expensive pleasure.
And I don't even know how much chemotherapy costs.
But it seems like with this illness, everything is covered.

What exactly did you do?

It depends on what kind of chemo—the cost of the drugs ranges from dirt cheap to... And I don't know where you're being treated. In Russia, all drugs for cancer patients are free. Well, of course, the ones that are on the essential medicines list. If you prefer a drug that's not on that list, you'll have to pay out of pocket. For example, I'm supposed to get hormone therapy pills, the oncologist writes free prescriptions. But they don't suit me because of the side effects, so I buy different ones with my own money...