Breast Cancer in Young Women

Erin · Guest

My grandmother had breast cancer, she had three daughters. One died of breast cancer, one had cancer and had to have both breasts removed, and the third and youngest [b]does not [/b]have breast cancer, the third is my mother. I am 22 and am very afraid that I have a huge risk. I was wondering what steps I should be taking right away if any? I have no health insurance and was wondering if there was any help for young women of high risk that is cheap or free? Thanks so much for having this forum!

MuttsMom · Guest

Erin,
There is a government program, that someone will have to tell you the name of, maybe the health department where you live, that says every woman, either 39 or 40 (I read it at the hospital when I was having my biopsy) regardless of insurance will recieve a mammogram and pap/pelvic once a year. You might want to call your health dept. and ask about that bill. Explain your situation and it might apply to you, but if you have no problems, like a lump, I don't know if it would. It's worth a try though.
Wish I could be more help.
Good luck
Nancy

Guest · Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2004 11:13 am Post subject: Re: Breast Cancer in Young Women

Hi,

If you are worried about a genetic link, here is a website you might want to peruse. It is very helpful, started by a woman who was diagnosed with BC at 31. www.facingourrisk.org

Here is a little about the site:

FORCE is a nonprofit organization for women who are at high risk of getting these cancers due to their family history and genetic status, and for members of families in which a BRCA mutation may be present. Our web site can be a helpful resource for anyone who knows she is at risk, who wonders whether she might be at risk, or who cares about the issues and concerns that we face.

They can also give you some great advice on how to monitor your breast health. (monthly breast self-exam, yearly clinical exam by a physician and they would probably want you to start mammos earlier than age 40) Mammos in very young woman are not always accurate because younger women (or small-breasted women) tend to have very dense breasts. They might suggest MRI or ultrasound.

Good luck and hugs,

Margie

leo · Site Admin Joined: 23 Sep 2004 Posts: 1574

Hello

Unfortunately getting healthcare without insurance is a big problem. But we can give you some advice. As someone mentioned, there are programs for women who need mammograms. They are free for those who qualify, but I am not sure about the details and whether you would qualify.

About your risk, the models take into consideration first-degree family members only, so if you have no sisters, daughters and your mother is not affected it is just like you did not have BC in your family. I am not saying that your risk is not higher, but with the current models it is very difficult to estimate. The lifetime risk of BC is currently 1/8, so there is a chance that your grandmother and aunts had sporadic breast cancer, not linked to genetics. Another thing that would help is to know when their diagnosis was made. If they were old, it is more likely to be sporadic, as opposed to a diagnosis at a young age.

regards,
Leo
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Leonardo F - Webmaster Cancer Forums
Disclaimer: this information is for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice.

claisy · Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2004 3:22 pm Post subject: mammograms for younger women

I had BC 4 years ago. I have a 33 year old daughter who just had her first baby. She has been told to wait until turning 35 before having a mammogram. Being her Mother, I would feel better if she had one now.

What is the right age now for younger women whose Mothers have had BC to get that first mammogram?

leo · Site Admin Joined: 23 Sep 2004 Posts: 1574

Hello

What is usually recommended is to start screening 10 years earlier than the age of diagnosis of a first-degree family member. So if your mother was diagnosed at 35, you should start screening at 25.

regards,
Leo
_________________
Leonardo F - Webmaster Cancer Forums
Disclaimer: this information is for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice.

claisy · Posted: Fri Nov 12, 2004 7:55 pm Post subject: when to have first mammogram

Thank you so much for responding to my question about my daughter. I was DX at 52, I am now 56. She is 33. So I guess waiting until she is 35 seems reasonable before she has a screening, that's what her ob/gyn has told her. SEEMS REASONABLE TO EVERYONE BUT ME!!!!!!!

I have heard and talked to so many young women that have this horrible disease, and I guess I just want my daughter to do everything she can to catch it early. It seems to me she would be in a much higher risk...mother with breast cancer, having her first baby at age 33...I don't know...I am rambling on and on here...she is not nearly as concerned about it as I am.

Thanks again for this site and for all that you do for us.

leo · Site Admin Joined: 23 Sep 2004 Posts: 1574

Hello

One thing that is recommended is to have a mammogram at an early age (30s) as a baseline. There is no recommendation exactly when this baseline mammogram should take place, but if she is so worried about this I guess it would not do any harm and would certainly reassure her.

regards,
Leo
_________________
Leonardo F - Webmaster Cancer Forums
Disclaimer: this information is for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice.

MNlady13 · Guest

My advice is to be sure you are doing monthly breast self examinations. Get to know your breasts so that you are aware of any changes. Early diagnosis and treatment are key to surviving breast cancer. Lauri (8 years, 7 months NED)

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