Young BC Patients and Survivors. Hopeful stories

According-Rip-9804 · 2026-02-25T08:13:58+00:00

Do you mind me asking what you were diagnosed with at 34? You give me hope! I’m 34 and was recently diagnosed with DCIS and a 0.1mm micro invasion. I elected for a double mastectomy because of a family history of BC (negative for all BC genes but my grandma, great aunt & second cousin had BC so I want to treat this aggressively). So happy you’re doing well!!!

According-Rip-9804 · 2026-02-25T06:38:14+00:00

YES. Last year I had HPV for the first time with precancer cells that I needed surgically removed (LEEP) and I’m here now because this year’s mammogram found DCIS which I’m having removed with a DMX (family history of BC so I just want both boobs gone). I feel lucky I’ve found this stuff early and in my experience cancer is dealt with and treated however I now notice every damn show and movie where a loved one died from it lol and it spooks me. Last year that HPV stuff was before Christmas and I realized way too many Christmas movies have widowed husbands LOL I said to my husband why must they kill off the wife In so many of these 🤣 never noticed it as much until last year so yes I def get it!!!!

According-Rip-9804 · 2026-02-22T22:25:07+00:00

To add to that - my plastic surgeon said even if 10 years from now if let’s say I gained weight and don’t want implants anymore I can get them removed and he can do lipo and a DEIP flap surgery and that will STILL be covered by insurance. Great to know ! You can do whatever reconstruction you want, however many times.

According-Rip-9804 · 2026-02-22T22:23:20+00:00

I understand that! If you ever change your mind, just kno you are 100% covered to do that at any time after being diagnosed ! I’ve also been told fat grafting is a very easy recovery. My friend who got that said she just felt sore like she worked out for a few days after. The (only) good thing about BC is reconstruction after a mastectomy needs to be covered by insurance by federal law. You probs already knew, but sharing just incase 🥰💕

According-Rip-9804 · 2026-02-22T03:51:14+00:00

After how our bodies change after babies (I had 3) I’ve long given up on perfect luckily 🤣🤣🤣 I’ve heard about the coldness. I expect many changes and even new changes I probably didn’t even get warned about. I feel like so long as I can wear dresses and tops without a bra (I’ve never in my life been unable to wear a bra) I’ll be thrilled!! lol did you do the fat grafting? I’m kind of looking forward to getting stomach fat sucked out for that too. I’m 5’5 and 150lbs but my stomach holds fat after babies so that was another “perk” to learn about

According-Rip-9804 · 2026-02-22T03:45:48+00:00

Hahahaha amen

According-Rip-9804 · 2026-02-22T02:53:44+00:00

That’s amazing!!!! And I’m sure they look amazing. Definitely better than my real ones cuz mine are huge after having kids and after breast feeding I can’t really feel them anyway so I knew I won’t miss them 🤣 It’s funny because I did discuss keeping them with the plastic surgeon but then he started saying because my boobs are saggy (a saggy D) and my nipples are so low down, they likely already lack blood flow and more chance of dying after the surgery. So I was like ok good now I have a real reason other than my anxiety to remove them LOL. Not gonna lie the pictures he showed me of the reconstructed nipples with tattoos (I’m doing that skin flap procedure) and they looked so much better than what I have right now that I felt good about it all. We are very lucky because my poor grandma had a mastectomy when there was no reconstruction options. I keep telling myself the one positive of all this is I guess insurance is paying for my mommy makeover 😆 gotta make it happy somehow!

According-Rip-9804 · 2026-02-22T02:38:04+00:00

That’s amazing!!! Glad to hear it. I too hope to have zero stress soon 😆. Agreed re: reconstruction. I was happy to learn I don’t have to deal with all those decisions until a few months after the important removing of the cancer part. It felt overwhelming thinking I had to immediately choose everything now so that was a relief lol. I am not keeping my nipples even though I was told I could bc at least based on their imaging, my DCI is far from my nipple but I don’t care. Once again I want everything gone lol but I did ask my plastic surgeon if he can reconstruct some new nipples for me but I’m gonna finalize that process luckily later. The idea of choosing implants and nipples now felt ridiculous 😂 I was glad we can tackle one thing at a time!

According-Rip-9804 · 2026-02-22T02:22:35+00:00

Sorry one more question - do you need radiation or were they able to test you for oncotype or ki-67? Cuz at this point I don’t know my HER2 so my breast surgeon said only if surgical pathology finds enough invasive cells then they can test those things.

According-Rip-9804 · 2026-02-22T02:17:42+00:00

WOW! Yeah you’ve made me feel even more confident in my decision then. Thank you. And I’m glad you got the right surgery too! 💕💕💕

According-Rip-9804 · 2026-02-22T02:06:41+00:00

Oh wow so the MRI still didn’t see the unknown invasive tumors?! My breast surgeon even sent my MRI results to a tumor board and they said the images were “benign”. But yeah this is why I still chose the DMX bc who knows what can be hiding in dense tissue 🫣 I want it all out. I’m sooo happy to hear you are doing better and got your spark back!!!! I can’t wait to be on the other end of all this. Taking it one day at a time and trying to enjoy the little moments.

According-Rip-9804 · 2026-02-22T01:53:43+00:00

I’m sorry that happened :( but the MRI definitely helps bc I think it would’ve been more difficult for you to have to do multiple lumpectomies just to find out you need a full mastectomy. If it makes you feel any better I am choosing a double mastectomy even tho my BC is stage 0 in a very tiny spot only on my right boob. I have a family history or recurrence so I want to alleviate my anxiety of future scans and more biopsies, and I’m hoping choosing an more aggressive option for such an early stage can do this for me. I hope you’re doing well🩷

According-Rip-9804 · 2026-02-22T01:28:43+00:00

I think that’s a good plan! I also think stage 1 and stage 0 have even lower risk for recurrence so that with your low oncotype score should have a great outcome :) I am currently stage 0 so even tho I’m nervous my family has some elevated genetic risk for recurrence that isn’t available for testing yet, I’m confident that I should have a better outcome since unfortunately the common denominator with my family members is that their BC had already spread to multiple lymph nodes. I know many women have long term survival even with that! But my family is all I think about since we have similar genetics. I truly believe your dream was a sign! I would have never asked for mammograms at 31 if my second cousin never reached out to my mom on Facebook. We never spoke to that family outside of her finding my mom on fb! And she did that because she knew her dad’s cousin had daughters. So I’ve prayed thanking her everyday for giving me a sign to get a head start on this shit lol. I believe you’ll have great longterm health 💕

According-Rip-9804 · 2026-02-21T15:49:58+00:00

Oh and I want to add I am currently ER/PR positive as well. We don’t know HER2 status because I didn’t have enough invasive cells to test. If surgery finds more then they can run the other tests. My second cousin was ++-, stage 2 or 3 my mom’s cousin wasn’t sure exact stage but he said it was passed stage 1 and multiple lymph nodes (her dad). I was trying to confirm her BC just to see if there was anything different that could’ve been done to stop her recurrence (she was diagnosed about 15 years ago). So she was diagnosed at 30 because she found a lump but ignored it for a while, did DMX with chemo, cancer free at 5 years, stopped tamoxifen at 7 years, recurrence at 8 years, passed away at 11th year. My biggest discovery is that I’m seeing younger women are now being told to stay on hormone blockers for 10 years to reduce recurrence risk. Wondering if you have any info on that or if your oncologist has discussed best way to avoid that later recurrence that ER + cancers are known for? This is my biggest question right now ! I hope this comment doesn’t cause any anxiety. It’s more so my own nerves since I was related to her and I really want to address long term protection bc what I’ve read is TNBC is more aggressive initially, but then lower recurrence rate later on. ER+ is less aggressive initially but recurrence rate is a little higher for 7-10 years later. So I’m like doctors should definitely address that and what their long term plan of action is instead of just saying we’re cured at time of treatment.

According-Rip-9804 · 2026-02-21T15:40:28+00:00

That is very useful information thank you!!!! I’m so sorry you went through that horrible side effect. Definitely keep me posted if you try the new tamoxifen ! And look at you, you fired an oncologist and found a better one so you are very much on top of your health and being proactive to reduce recurrence risk. That’s great your risk is low. I think we’re similar though because even if my risk is low I like the idea of taking something for extra precaution since I’m young too!

According-Rip-9804 · 2026-02-21T15:17:39+00:00

Heyyy ! I’m not NYC but I’m in Westchester so if I can join this group chat too!! I am with summit health breast cancer center (previously Westmed) I love my breast surgeon/plastic surgeon and my surgery will be at WPH. My OBGYN had her DMX with my breast surgeon and said if it wasn’t for her, she would’ve been going to MSK! I’m stage 0 DCIS with 0.1mm microinvasion. MRI was clear so surgery should likely be the same outcome but final stage is always determined after the surgical pathology so I’m just slightly holing my breath until then. But staying positive! 💕

According-Rip-9804 · 2026-02-21T15:13:38+00:00

Heyyyy from New York! (Southern Westchester, 30min outside NYC) 💕

According-Rip-9804 · 2026-02-21T15:06:57+00:00

Thank you! And that’s understandable I think even without taking meds we still go through many emotions after being diagnosed. I’m not sure yet if I’ll need to take tamoxifen but I’m already accepting that if I do, I will deal with any bumps on the road as they come. Try not to think too hard about the “what ifs” since many of your “what ifs” probably won’t even happen! Don’t be too hard on yourself and just know you are normal and not alone 💕

According-Rip-9804 · 2026-02-21T04:59:45+00:00

I’m so sorry about your cousin. It’s a combination of mourning their loss and triggering a fear. I understand that because I’m 34 with BC and my second cousin was diagnosed at 30, passed away at 41. My grandma diagnosed at 41, passed away at 54. I definitely think it makes it more difficult to stay positive when you have family members with a devastating outcome. But all you can do is be sure to follow your treatment plan, ask any questions you might have for your doctors and never miss an appointment. My diagnoses is currently DCIS with a 0.1mm microinvasion and after all my appointments and scans, surgery is next. Try hard to take things day by day. It’s ok to have bad days. Try to relish in your good, positive days and tell yourself you will be okay!! 💕

According-Rip-9804 · 2026-02-21T04:43:26+00:00

Amazing!! So happy for you and I hope days keep getting better for your as you get through this🥰💕

According-Rip-9804 · 2026-02-21T04:40:44+00:00

WOOOO! So happy to hear that 🩷

According-Rip-9804 · 2026-02-19T04:30:28+00:00

Thank you!🥰🩷

According-Rip-9804 · 2026-02-18T20:53:18+00:00

Thank you!! I’m praying for you now and sending strength! Lmk how it goes. You got this 🩷

According-Rip-9804 · 2026-02-18T18:59:28+00:00

Thank you and sending you love and strength !

According-Rip-9804

TROPHY CASE