To beg you ALL to read this, for the sake of your health, please ladies.

[Vallhala]

Inspired by a thread currently in Chat, PLEASE take a couple of minutes to read this and a couple more to act on it, for YOUR sake and that of those you love.

I'm (I hope!) a reasonably intelligent woman, I'm fairly health and news aware, I knew about breast cancer. I knew that it is rarely found in someone with no family history of it, who doesn't eat meat, who is slim and fit, who is under 40.

And I know that women like that generally think the same way. And as a result, like me when I was under 40, they don't check their breasts, they go about life each day informed of an issue which doesn't concern them personally.

Just like I did... until I got to the age of 37 and discovered a lump in my breast by chance when I was having a bath.

I'm one of the lucky ones.

I had a lumpectomy and subsequently my ovaries removed to prevent my body producing oestrogen that could kill me. I've a dent in my boob, was hurled into instant menopause following the ovarian surgery with all the horrible and very pronounced effects that go with it but I'm alive and my children still have a mother.

If this inspires just ONE woman to check her breasts, one woman who would otherwise think as I did that it can't happen to her, I've done right, as painful as it is to me for the memories to be brought back. I'll show my scar off, talk about it to strangers, nag folk, do whatever it takes to prevent someone else's children from losing their mother.

So please ladies, no matter how young, how fit you are, how good you feel... check your breasts and tell every other woman you know my story.

Mal

This article suggests that there is no evidence of long term effects to the baby of BC during pregnancy. Additionally, there is no evidence of long term health effects to babies born to a woman who has previously had BC.
www.cancer.org/Cancer/BreastCancer/MoreInformation/pregnancy-and-breast-cancer

I know it doesn't fully answer your question if you are at increased risk but I suspect the reality is that nobody knows. In the same way, I don't know if my mum developed early breast cancer because of one of the specific genetic mutations as my mum is dead so they cannot do the genetic tests.

There is a debate and research being undertaken to assess if the benefits of early screening outweigh the potential risks. Its a balance.

Have checked in response to this post. Thanks Valhalla (also thanks to the person who advised checking at the end of a period).

I'm not sure they are - in any case there's no risk to a smear I think, whereas there is a risk to a screen, I think it's for those with a genetic propensity.

I definitely think it's worth posting this for balance

I think it's not all a one-sided good news story. This article (it's from the Indie) is about the controversy and mentions a BMJ study which compared outcomes in "screened areas" unfavourably to "unscreened areas."

I'm not saying it doesn't help anyone, I'm just saying, one ought to be aware there are two sides to this.

I wouldn't be screened, I'd have an ultrasound instead.

Vallhala. My chick!

Thank you!

I'm very health conscious at the moment as my Dad has just been diagnosed with prostate cancer and has just commenced treatment. It's been a hell of a few weeks.

I'm reminded to book my smear too. Do both ladies. Do everything you can.

Echo everything Vallhala and others have said about checking and knowing your body. I noticed two small lumps on my jaw, just in front of my ear, in March. To cut a long story short, I was diagnosed with cancer in the salivary gland and now am 90% through 6 weeks of radiotherapy, following radical surgery in May which has left me with facial palsy on one side. If I hadn't noticed these lumps and got them checked very quickly, my cancer would have spread much more (it was very aggressive) - every day I thank God I noticed and acted so quickly.

Ladies, take care of yourselves and your bodies.

To want a total ban on hooded tops? DS was mugged for 2nd time yesterday on Putney Bridge ( a huge bridge that incoporates a road and pavements) at 4pm, all members of the gang of nasty, despicable, low life, scum thieves were wearing them, grrrrrr!

Good point val can i add that i was 26 when i had the bugger,had double mastectomy chemo radio etc,wasnt given good odds but im still here to tell the tale and im now 43 and thank gosd have had no reccurrance and 2 more babies one only 7 months .
Mastectomy didnt show my lump as in young women the tissue is too dense.
Have now had a slightly dodgy smear but hopefully will be ok.
Do take your health seriously,its hatefull when you havent got it.

shit thought i just started a new thread, see! still seething. Sorry, will scurry off go and post it under NEW now.

sorry my point was you are never too young iyswim.

sweetestThing - wishing you all the best with your treatment.

I have to admit that I have never really been sure how to check my breasts. I mean, I think I know what to do, but breast tissue feels lumpy anyway, so never sure if I am doing it right and if I would notice anything other than a really obvious lump.

My paternal aunt was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 50, but don't think that puts me at any higher risk.

Litotes my only family history was 2 paternal Aunts but im not convinced as they have a different Dad to my Dad,i tend to think everyone should just check as any of us could have a high risk and not know.Your gp will tell you about breast checks and there is plenty og good advice on the net with demos.The only thing that got me through my illness was knowing i checked often and that the lump hadnt been there long.

Thanks for the reminder; its something I rarely do.

I left my smear 11 years, i had a skin cancer growth removed and it became infected, the nurse who was cleaning it everyday harassed me into having a smear test so I did. Turned out i had cervical cancer and was caught in time. If i had left it another year then...well lets just say it would be bad. I've just had the all clear now thank God after undergoing 2 not so nice procedures. Although if I hadn't had skin cancer I probably wouldn't have went for the smear. Life is too precious to put these things off, i've learned that.

Malifience - re "I meant risks as in what are the risks to me"

If your mum's cancer was metastising (i.e. cancer cells going elsewhere in the blood) while she was pregnant with you, I suppose there is a chance that some cancer cells may have passed through the umbilical cord to you as a fetus. However, if any had, they would have manifested themselves by now (iirc from previous posts, you are no spring chicken - like myself). In short, I wouldn't worry about it.

Bless you Vallhala - thanks for posting this.

I have a family history so try to check every couple of weeks in the shower but often forget. I must, must, must get into a more regular habit.

I'm so glad things are working out well for you.

Does anyone know what you are supposed to be looking for when you check your breasts? Is it just getting to know what yours feel like and then noticing any changes?

I've got a smear test booked in two weeks but I'm ashamed to say I never check my breasts , although I'm not sure what to do tbh. Think I'll ask the nurse to show me when I go for the smear.

My thoughts go out to everyone undergoing treatment.

I would check my breasts but sadly I can't as I don't have any. The reason being I've been in the breast cancer boat already. Lumpectomy, followed by double mastectomy, chemo and radio followed by a year of Herceptin and I'll be taking Tamoxifen until 2015. I have a 75% chance of 20 year survival. My eldest had just started reception when I was diagnosed.

It is a path you do not want to tread. Vallhala's advice is great. No matter how scary the prospect of it is, the reality is 100's of times worse. Don't risk it.

PS - booked my reconstruction this week though so I'm getting new boobs for Xmas!

edam You're checking for lumps, primarily, skin changes and nipple changes, and getting familiar with your breasts so that you would feel anything new that appears. It's important to self-examine with the flat of your hand, NOT fingertips; as fingertip palpation gives the impression of lumps that are not really there. There are several websites that show good self-examination technique, or if you visit your GP they should be happy to show you how to self-examine (I teach any woman who comes in requiring any breast exam, plus any other woman who asks).

Thanks Valhalla.
Checked as soon as I read your message.
I'm glad you're ok.

My sister had it at 36 and nearly died, I'm 36 now and in the early screening programme. Every adult woman going back three generations has had it. To say I check my boobs regularly is an understatement. In fact the doctor told me to only check once a month as I'd got myself into a state of panic about it but that's another story!

By screening I mean mammograms annually as part of the family history clinic although as another aunty's got it now I may get the exciting treat of an annual MRI! Ambassador you are spoiling us! As others have said the family history clinics are worth asking your GP about if you are worried about cancer in the family. They're beautifully thorough.

Thanks for this thread I have just checked mine.

You CAN get regular mammograms under 50 - but only if you have had at least 3 family members in two generations who have had breast cancer. Then they will give you a mammogram every5 years after 35. I'm 30. I fit those criteria. . My great-grandmother died of ovarian cancer that was secondary to breast cancer at 61. My Great-Auntie Olive died of Breast cancer when she was 42. My Nan had breast cancer, a mastectomy and chemo 6 years ago, she got her all-clear last year. My Mother had a cancerous lump removed from her breast at 27 (thankfully that was all that was needed, it was picked up early due to the family history).

I am now 30, and check regularly. It is VERY important. I'm glad you are doing well, Val.