What do you think caused your breast cancer?

I’m so sorry that you’re going through that. I know personally at all these things are not easy to handle. I’ve had a total of four cancers three being breast cancer when it was tested. I had BRAC 2.
My fourth cancer was stage four tonsil cancer, which they and I thought would take my life in a relatively short time. Being blessed with a research study that I fit the criteria for I joined. It was tough. It caused my kidneys to shut down and ended up in a hospital for 2 1/2 months and had to have dialysis. It cost me a large part of my hearing, the ability to swallow normally, and taste buds and saliva ducks were fried. But like you, no pity party, I’m here and can share this with you and have my family. Life is still good. I’m so glad you’re taking the positive side because it will do you so much good in the long run. May God bless you always.

I believe disease, in general, is a big question mark. It invites us to look at every part of our lives: our nutrition, our movement, our mental health, our emotions. Cancer is a multifactorial illness, so there isn’t one single cause. That’s why understanding its root can feel so complex.
In my own experience, I think a big part of my journey came from not expressing my emotions. I struggled deeply with losing my father to Alzheimer’s. It was devastating to watch the man I loved and admired so much slowly forget me, lose his voice, and no longer recognize my mother, who cared for him lovingly through all those years. I never spoke about this with anyone. In general, it was always hard for me to open up about my feelings.
At the same time, while my father was fading, my marriage was going through a very difficult stage. We barely talked, and little by little, I felt like I was losing my sense of purpose. My father passed away six years ago, and then, in 2024, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Eighteen months have passed since that moment, and with the help of therapy, all those buried emotions have finally started to rise to the surface. This emotional awakening has been a vital part of my healing. My relationship with my husband has improved so much, and honestly, I feel happier now than I did before.
Through this process, I’ve come to understand something important: medical treatments are here to cure, but true healing comes from within. It comes from deep awareness , from understanding the experiences, wounds, and emotions we have carried throughout our lives, the things that may have silently shaped our health. Maybe in the past you fell, but now you have the chance to rise again. I believe that behind every disease, there is always a lesson in love.
And that’s why I feel that God or the universe placed this challenge on my path. Maybe I’m wrong, but I know this: cancer has taught me more about myself, my relationships, and my life than anything else ever has.

I don’t drink or eat alot of processed foods. I almost never get sick and it was a shock to me also when I got diagnosed this summer. Don’t beat yourself up. Mine was 100% positive for Estrogen. I used estrogen cream for many years. Possibly cause, but not definate according to oncologist. Good luck to you. Hopefully you just need a lumpectomy like me.

You are not alone in thinking this, hugs! I was in my 30s, tested negative for the genes.

Doing intack with my oncologist, her very first question was if I'd been exposed to asbestos.

Oh boy have I! We used to crawl around in it all the time in high school.

But also I spent 4 years cooking with an unventilated stove in an apartment where the girl who lives there right before me moved out because she *also* got cancer in her 30s...

I've lived next to freeways, a couple miles from some of the largest wheat fields in America, and drank out of plastic everything. I was blonde and spent my teens years dumping J&J baby power with talc on my head every other day as a dry shampoo.

I've lived mostly in 1940s and older houses and we never filtered the lead out or replaced the lead pipes.

I was also pregnant when I palpitated the tumor, which I've learned later ups your chances.

These may or may not add up, something is going on, my friends keep messaging me at 39, 40, 41 as they too are diagnosed.

But lastly I'm this super long post - I also have had a lot of trauma in my life.

When I went through The Grief Recovery Handbook post-treatment, I did a timeline and had 54 separate grief/trauma events in the 38 years before diagnosis.

I grew up in a family where you were punished if you acted in any way that might show that life was not 1000% amazing, and I, as the oldest, had to especially have that attitude for the younger kids.

I think all the environmental damage and emotional damage my body took definitely contributed to the cancer cells growing so quickly. TNBC is something that is pretty high in population groups that have historically had a lot of abuse, and have been regulated to homes and neighborhoods with a lot more pollution. 😢

But! While it was totally awful, for once in my life I got to stand up for myself and my emotions and proclaim that it *was* totally awful!!

I got to scream cry at God and clutch my husband and son together that our baby was so young and I couldn't hold him or care for him, and we just prayed those lamenting prayers. And we did get through it.

I wish you so much healing. I am so sorry.

@angiemal I agree. I love myself now. I didn't before.

@angiemal Thank you for sharing.

After having breast cancer, I dont use anything plastic in the kitchen for cooking or storage , bpa is bad, I don't eat processed foods, and eat alot more antioxidant fruit and vegs. My one splurge is sweet treats now and then.
I am careful what I put on my hair and skin, as natural as possible , don't need my skin soaking up alot of chemicals . I had TNBC and am almost at 5 years so so far so good.
Hugs and blessings to you all.

@angiemal Your attitude is one that we should all aspire to really internalize. I send you blessings…and I’m so thankful that you wrote to us all.

@debdeb1 I think job stress plus we used to grill maybe weekly; this might have exacerbated it. But mostly stress i think. The thing that most surprises me is that i loved my job and did not even feel the stress until i retired. Nobody talked about mindfulness then. Now i meditate almost daily.

@diannetaggart
I have the same thing...Adrenal Insufficiency (Addison's Disease) caused by the immunotherapy (KETRUDA). Like you, I am happy to be alive! I was on my deathbed when they finally figured out that I had zero Cortisol. After they gave me steroids it was like I was raised from the dead! So, hugs to you and so sorry about your pituitary gland and the tumor. I'm doing great, like you. Life is good!

When I found out I had BC, I knew exactly why. I had gene testing done. I have the BRCA 1 gene mutation. I have always known that my grandmother died of breast cancer at the age of 32. I was always told by doctors when I voiced my concern, oh, don't worry about it, it was on your father's side. I believe my BC was delayed in my later life (age 60) because I was a runner that never had a period and when I got married, I was on birth control pills, then had 2 babies. I had the oblation to my uterus when my youngest daughter was 1. Now my oldest daughter was tested and has the BRCA 1 gene same as me and her doctor put her on the birth control pills to prevent the cells separating, hence prevent BC. That's the theory now, anyways.