Check Yourself. Breast cancer with 5 month old.

[2under2in2022]

I need to ask you all to do something…

I’ve just been diagnosed with breast cancer at 31. It’s already gone to my lymph nodes. It’s grade 3 aggressive. It’s triple negative which means chemo, surgery and radiotherapy & I’m scared.

This cancer, with the information that we currently have, is deemed totally treatable and doesn’t have a terminal prognosis.

I will also be undertaking genetic testing which will see if I carry genes that have a higher risk of this cancer and other cancers. Chances are the children are entitled to these too but that’s to be discussed with the genetic specialist.

Both mine were born prematurely at 33+6. #1 - Hudson is 2 on Tuesday. #2 - Canada is 5 months on the 10th.

In all honesty the diagnosis doesn’t scare me. It’s the impact of the treatment. For example Hudson used my hair as a comfort, and I’m scared he will reject me if I loose it or when it falls out in his hands.

I am not ready to give up feeding Canada-Rose on an emotional level but this is something we are working through. Although she is not at any risk while I am feeding her or the fact I have fed her. She is not taking to bottles well so we are encouraging weaning meals.

I am scared of not being well enough to look after the children during treatment. I am however thankful that they are too young to understand what is going on.

The healthy version of me, in ignorance, wants to run away and hide with the children and my OH. We're also meant to be getting married 27/05/23. Do we bring it forward or push it back?

This feels like an impending train that’s going to hit me. I can’t swerve out the way of it. But I don’t know what speed it’s coming, what direction it’s coming or what I’m going to be dealing with during the impact or afterwards.

Please please please can everyone check your boobs. Breastfeeding, expressing, formula feeding - please check them and get ANY lumps checked out by a professional. Check your lymph nodes in your arm pits. If they’re swollen, see your doctor.

I’m scared. But my silver lining is my kids are too young to remember this. I’m fighting for them. Just like they fought for me in NICU.

I'm sorry you're going through this.

I was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer with lymph node involvement at 36 with 2 small children youngest 9 months at the time. That was 20 years ago. I’m sure treatment has got better in that time but just wanted to encourage you @2under2in2022 reach out as much as you can for support. PM me if you’d like to. Sending you love and strength x

Sorry you are going though this

And how nice of you to ask all to check their breasts

Sending you positivity and hugs xxx

I'm so, so sorry. It's an awful thing to go through at what is supposed to be such a happy and exciting period of your life. As you say however, with your children at the ages they are they will not have the fear that a parent's cancer diagnosis can bring, and they eventually almost certainly won't even remember you being ill. That doesn't take away from the ordeal you are going through, but I hope the prospect of a normal family life and childhood for your kids can be a light at the end of the tunnel for you.

Thanks for the reminder, it's too easy when you are young to dismiss this as the kind of thing that happens to older people, but of course nobody is impervious. I've just done a proper breast check after reading your story and will make a real effort to do it every month.

All the best.

Hello I'm going through a very similar experience. Would be nice to have someone to talk to xx

Feel free to message me xxx

I'm new to mums net, could you tell me how i Dm here? X

Not sure if you will even see this but what was the symptoms. Did you have lump in boob aswell as armpit ?