What do you think caused your breast cancer?

@jmab—It's so good to hear, and yes, I’ve experienced the same sense of gratitude and enjoyment. I have friends who ask, 'Aren’t you giving up all the joys of life?’, but no, it’s actually better without some of those vices.

@diannetaggart My family's apartment was sprayed inside and out for the four years we lived there. The landlord even sprayed through my open bedroom window, by accident, while he was spraying under the eves. It was Chlordane. My breasts had started to grow. A very bad time to be exposed to estrogen mimicking chemicals. No one in my family has breast cancer. Only me, twice. In 1992 I was told I had high levels of Chlordane and PFAS. It was not the only apartment that I lived in that was sprayed. You can get blood tests for chemicals that you could have been exposed to if you go to certain integrative medical doctors. You have to pay out of pocket. The doctor and I had to decide what couple of chemicals, based on the years and the usage, I should have.

@cashemire Good question. I do remember the questionnaire, ( it was the one recommended by the Today Show, I believe), linked benign breast tumors to a higher rate of breast cancer tumors. There is a link with multiple cysts according to NIH studies. NIH recently defunded, unfortunately. I just asked A.I. Google. It said: Research indicates that having multiple breast cysts ( especially at younger ages is associated with an increase of breast cancer because cysts may be a marker for generalized increased epithelial activity in the breast.

@colely Thank you. Yes my breasts were filed with cysts. I even have on now in the other breast. Interesting.

I truly believe that lack of sleep and stress led to my cancer. I got Covid in 2020. One of the complications from that was that I was not able to sleep; either couldn’t get to sleep or waking and unable to go back to sleep. I was also stressed. I was dx in 2022, and still had sleep issues that were unresolved til I had an integrative medicine consult. Sleep is vital for the body to heal and rejuvenate itself. Hence I firmly believe that the lack of sleep led to my cancer.

@myoga
yes, my yogi, I hit the jackpot. But life did get so much better for me! I am now married to a wonderful, loving and kind husband, so I hit the jackpot again - but this time beautifully.
My son is my heart burden. Hopefully I will be able to reach him when I have one-on-time with him. It will not be easy by no means. But I must have courage and say the unthinkable to him.
Something never in a million years, I thought I would have to confront. Always such a high achiever, so smart, so funny, so social, so loving, so kind and considerate. But all that fell by the wayside, addictions will always do that. Addictions affect the entire family...and I am certainly a casualty of his behavior and addiction. I pray this heartbreak does not bring on a re-occurrence of my cancer. I must live long enough to get my only adult child back on the right track, the good track, the life fulling track...where he was for so long before. I never thought, ever, at our ages 70 and 40, I would face this in my life. Yes, we all now this for sure. One never knows what curveballs life will throw at us. Life changes on a dime. We are all living proof of that.
Blessings to all.

@briarrose oh I am so sorry to hear this. I myself know the struggle of have a child in addition. Stay strong. My daughter is now clean of drugs and just had a baby. Prayer sent your way.

@girlsfly no ultra processed food in my kitchen, 99% from scratch most of the time. Some research question weather wine causes breast cancer or not. It is still ethanol but not the same as a glass of whiskey. There is a lot of cherry-picked science out there. One article claims wine us deadly. Another says it is not. Moderation I suppose.

@ksms and also age when it comes to cancer.

@diannetaggart My breasts had fibroid adenomas and they are very dense. I had two benign fibroid adenomas removed over time. Now a breast cancer diagnosis. I had no idea the fibroid adenomas were a risk factor. It's a real wake up call for sure and alcohol is gone for good.