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Danielle_Richar's avatar
Danielle_Richar
Member
10 years ago

26 and out of the blue

Hi all,

Thanks so much for having me on here. My name is Danielle and I was diagnosed this year at age 26 in late July. My tumour was oestrogen and progesterone positive. I have absolutely no family history of Breast Cancer and I tested negative to the BRCA1 and BRCA 2 gene. I had a lumpectomy and then my surgeon called me with results that my margins weren't clear and had to have a mastectomy. I had one lymph node involvement by 2.5mm. 

My partner and I did go through IVF (as expensive as it was) and we froze 6 embryos. I also have a Zoladex Injection once a month to protect my fertility. 

I'm going into my last Chemo (6 cycles) session in two weeks on the 7th of January and then will start Radiotherapy around the start of February. Currently I don't know too much about reconstruction as my surgeon wants me to cross that bridge when we come to it. 

I've started a blog which I've found incredibly helpful to help me have an "outlet" other than my close people around me. I've called it #straightfromthechestat27 the link is here if anyone would like to have a look: https://straightfromthechestat27.wordpress.com

Sometimes I still think wow, has this really happened to me? I've stayed incredibly positive and had plenty of fight, but golly gosh there has been sometimes where all I have needed to do is cry and just let it out. 

I look forward to chatting with others about their journey. I'm located in Newcastle, NSW. 

 

2 Replies

  • SunnyNess77's avatar
    SunnyNess77
    Member
    10 years ago

    Hi Danielle, 

    Nice to meet you here and I look forward to reading your blog.  Im a journalist and am currently in the middle of writing some pieces to try and get published that focus on the very unique issues that face us younger women with BC, such as the fertility and hormonal aspect.

    Im just 38 and got diagnosed on Friday 13th of Nov and had a lumpectomy and 5 lymphs removed on Dec 1 and will be starting radiation on Jan 4 and will be taking tamoxifen for 5 years.  Im grade 1, stage 2 ER+ and I've not had children and its something that I thought I would do later and I am now really struggling with that side of things.  Im with a new partner where that could have been a very definite thing to happen, but now, it seems unlikely or I will have to at least do one year of tamox and then take it from there I guess.

    Keep strong and positive and take comfort in that us women here, we 'get' it.  Please message if you ever want to vent, cry, laugh or whatever xxxx

  • Kymvass's avatar
    Kymvass
    Member
    10 years ago

    Hi Danielle,

    Welcome...

    I have a similar story, although I am a bit older than you and already have 3 kids, but as far as the cancer and treatment plan goes.

    I also started a blog, it was a great outlet and helped keep life as 'normal' as possible socially.  

    shttp://reluctantpassenger.blogspot.com.au 

    It is wise to deal with each stage as you need to. Otherwise it's too overwhelming. I have finished chemo, now having radio and have started the mastectomy and recon journey - it's hard to look at all of that information- the surgery scares me the most.

    All the best with your journey - I'll have a look at your blog. I've included mine too.

    cheers

    kym x