I’m so sorry to hear of your diagnosis but please know that you’re going to be okay. It’s just such a shock for us to hear and the information and decision making can be absolutely overwhelming.

I was 60 when I was diagnosed with lobular breast cancer almost 4 years ago. Hard to believe!

Because I was triple positive, I had chemo, lumpectomy, radiation and now on an estrogen suppressing drug called Arimidex.

Needless to say, a harrowing journey but I came through it and am doing very well. You will too.

Just try to take it one week at a time and try not to look too far ahead. Break your treatment down in steps and focus just on the task at hand.

Surround yourself with positivity and always ask for help when you need it. 🙏♥️🙏

I hope you get at least one more opinion. And maybe a few more. Also ask about any genetic or genomic tests that might be applicable. If there was cancer detected at the margins, was follow-up surgery recommended or are the doctor(s) recommending the longer chemo and seemingly extensive radiation to clean that up? [If the latter, I'd want to know of I could have further surgery and avoid some of the prolonged radiation.]

I would have a lot of similar questions and you might get very different treatment options, or at least understand exactly why what is being recommended makes the best sense, with a fresh outside opinion. For example, you might be easily eligible for newer site-precise shorter radiation protocol but not if the facility you deal with doesn't yet have the technology and training. There are a lot of 'new tools' for dealing with breast that aren't readily available everywhere. [Both Cleveland and Mayo Clinics offer 5-session radiation, completed with 10 days, for eligible breast cancers, usually caught as early stage cancers. Facilities that don't have that new technology cannot offer it even when it might be the best treatment protocol.]

The good(bad) news is that a problem was found that can be dealt with in the immediate future. The goal is to learn your options and understand them so you can be empowered to make the treatment decisions that feel right to you and move forward with confidence about them.

@kware75 First and foremost.......big hugs! So sorry you're going through this. The first year for me was scary and stressful but on a positive note - they are so much better at breast cancer diagnosis and treatment now. Do as much research as you can and also get a second or even third opinion if you can. The metastasis is the greatest concern. If they can remove the cancer with lumpectomy that is an option but mastectomy might be a good choice as well...to completely remove the tissue in case there is more cancer starting. The choice about chemo and radiation is a difficult one. I was lucky that it wasn't recommended for me (no metastasis) and also I chose mastectomy to avoid those treatments BUT...my husband's cancer responded very well to just a handful of chemo treatments and radiation. It was a rough couple of years for him but he has no evidence of disease now and they don't even know the type of cancer he has and was considered terminal at diagnosis and that was 7 years ago. Get as much information and as many opinions as you need to feel you're making the right choice and know that you can quit any treatment at any time and there are statistics you can work with to determine possible outcomes. Since you are pretty young they are concerned about your estrogen levels and hence the ovary removal BUT....make them do blood tests to see how much estrogen you really have as well. When I requested that I found that I had NO estrogen (I had 95% estrogen positive breast cancer). I was able to skip the endocrine therapy as well. I was however about 6 years older than you at diagnosis and post menopause but the hormones were non existent at diagnosis...the damage was already done I guess. I do hope this helps because I know how frightened and overwhelmed you are feeling. I am sending the most positive thoughts I can to you today.

I am 46 and we are going through a similar time