Can young people have breast cancer?

6 months ago, while I was leaving with my boyfriend (we separated in february), I felt a lump in my left breast. I went to a gynecologist (no insurance) and he sent me to an ultrasound and tumor markers. The ultrasound was unclear, so he sent me to a mammography that I never went to. CA 15-3 was 40, which I was told was high. I postponed going back to the gynecologist’s office, especially for lack of money, but fear as well. Then I broke up with Cliff, my boyfriend, and it all went downhill. He was the only one working, I was living in his house. Now I’m living with various relatives and friends, don’t have a place of my own, don’t have any income. I’ve noticed a discharge now on my left breast, and I got really scared, especially sicne I knew the tests weren’t so good. I’m only 43… can I have cancer at this age? Also, are there organizations dealing with this? I mean, if you don’t have any income and no insurance, is there anybody that can help? Nowhere to turn, don’t know what to do. Should I be worried, or I’m just paranoid?

http://www.shadesofpinkfoundation.org/page/page/2361028.htm

http://youngsurvival.org/

http://www.breastcancer.org/

http://imaginis.com/breasthealth/staging.asp

http://www.acscsn.org/

http://www.chemotherapy.com/

http://www.curetoday.com/

http://lbbc.org/

http://www.plwc.org/portal/site/PLWC

http://cms.komen.org/komen/index.htm

http://www.y-me.org/

http://www.hoperibbon.org/

http://www.ccapc.com/

http://360.yahoo.com/jessica_harris9

http://www.breastcancerdoc.com

Look up CanCare (Houston, TX, although may be in your area or something similar)

Look up Gilda's Club or House or something in your area as well.

GOOD LUCK

Jessi

6/9/06 - biopsy positive for cancer
6/23/06 - DIAGNOSIS: stage IV (T4d N2 M1) invasive ductile carcinoma NOS with bone and liver mets; 17 cm mass (primary tumors), inflammatory breast cancer(IBC); HER2/neu+, HR-
6/26/06-12/11/06 - Chemo FEC/Taxol w/Herceptin & Aredia
12/20/06 - right modified radical mastectomy, 7 of 13 removed nodes showed evidence of prior disease
12/21/06 - No Evidence of Disease (stage IV/NED); complete remission
2/6/07-3/22/07-Radiation 28+5 boost, 6040cGy.
CURRENT: Still NED, taking Herceptin and Zometa without end. Heart and kidney function remains normal.

Sara

Jessica didn't mention her great article Too Young for Breast Cancer ...

read it!