BellaOnline Forums Health and Fitness Breast Cancer Age at diagnosis poll

What was your age when you were diagnosed with breast cancer?

Age at diagnosis single choice
	Under 30
	31-40
	41-50
	51-60
	61-70
	Over 70
Votes accepted starting: 06/19/08 01:20 AM You must vote before you can view the results of this poll.

My mom was 28 when she was diagnosed, in 1981. [I didn't want to click on the poll, since it wasn't "me"] She found the lump, and believe it or not, her doctor at the time told her to "wait three months and see what happens." Well, it got bigger, and she ended up having a mastectomy.

So far, I haven't had a diagnosis. I am 33. I get yearly mammograms and pay close attention to anything "strange."

My sister is currently deciding about genetic testing. I'm not sure about it for myself. My mom wants no part of it.

No studies have been done on daughters of women who were diagnosed early, so we aren't really sure what to do. Neither are our doctors!

Kim

Hi Kim,

Thanks for sharing your story. I think your situation is one of the hardest to face, because every day that uncertainty and worry is hanging over your head. Genetic testing results (either way) can be a huge relief, because at least "now you know." On the other hand, a lot of people (like your mom) really don't want to push the envelope that far. I'm attaching a link to a very helpful website -- you may have already heard of them -- and they have a lot of good information for people faced with these worries.

www.facingourrisk.org

All the best to you,

Thanks Gail! I haven't really investigated too much into this -- my sister has done more. She lives in another state from me and has a whole different set of people she is working with. My doctors have told me a yearly mammogram is enough. Her doctors want her to go every 6 months.

She very much wants the genetic testing, but her insurance just denied it. I think it was over $3000, so it isn't like she can pay that out of pocket.

My mom acts like none of this ever happened to her. She thinks it's a bit silly that my sister and I are even concerned about it. She views it as something random that happened to her that we shouldn't bother worrying about. But we don't exactly see it that way!

I will check out the site you mentioned. Thanks so much!

Kim