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I agree that most of us have asked this question at different times in our journey. @cmdw2600 I am sorry you have joined the club none of us ever wanted to join.
When I was diagnosed young, before menopause or my first mammogram. I asked this question. I was told at the time since I was negative for BRCA and all the cancer came on my dads side, it wasn’t genetics.
Then there was the usual things that blame the patient, I might have had a drink or two in my twenties. I might not have exercised enough, or the 5% body fat I sported at the time, much higher today😂😂.
That graph shows how much we know today about the possible reasons, and it is huge compared to 2004. I would speculate that in another 20 years we will know so much more about breast cancer and why we get it, or maybe we won’t get it anymore.
I put this into perspective for myself by saying, I will be grateful for whatever time I am given by the knowledge we have today, and offer my journey as a learning tool to add to that knowledge base, for future prevention.
I am intensely curious, may I genuinely ask if knowing all the reasons you might have gotten it, enriches your life? Can you explain this to me? 💕
Replies to "I agree that most of us have asked this question at different times in our journey...."
I feel as though I do know what gave me cancer ( stage IV breast) but I don’t want to share my thoughts. You are very strong to share yours or be prepared to accept your limited time left. Best wishes to you!
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To answer the question-knowing the reason(s) wouldn’t enrich my life and the past cannot be changed, but if it is something I can control and not repeat a mistake, I would like to know.
For example, I took the heavy duty birth control pills for ten years. This began in the seventies and lasted into the eighties. I’m not saying it was that by any means and if it was, that’s in the past. Just an example. But I have enjoyed wine with my dinner all of my adult life and if it was that, I can change my habits going forward. (Alcohol is not so much a contributor to triple negative as some other BC but again, I can influence this factor now and in the future.) Again, just an example.
I don’t think about it so much anymore-not like in the beginning. Just try to do my best and like you, be helpful to others by adding to the knowledge base.
Thank you for your reply! Cindy