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Becky · 12-22-2006, 01:42 PM

My mother and 2 of her sisters (out of 4) had BC. All strongly ER/PR+. One of her sisters died from the disease but she ignored her lump for 5 years (this is true) and when she finally let herself be treated she had lung mets and 19 affected nodes. She still did ok for years and lived 5 years beyond diagnosis (passed away in 1995). I am sure if she did something right away, she would still be with us now.

My mom is one of the youngest of 11 children so I am one of the youngest cousins and the only one of my generation to have bc. My mom and the 2 sisters who got bc worked in the steel mills as young women (ages 17 - 24). The ones who didn't did not get bc. One brother worked there too and got lung cancer. This was the only cancer in their family.

I tested negative for BRCA 1 & 2. I lived on a golf course and in a county in NJ who has the highest rates of bc in the state. This is why I moved in February (to help protect my kids) as golf courses use alot of chemicals.

Sometimes I think we (my family) has a mild genetic weakness but some type of exposure pushed us over the edge. Maybe, maybe not.

12-22-2006, 01:42 PM	#31
Becky Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Stockton, NJ Posts: 4,179	My mother and 2 of her sisters (out of 4) had BC. All strongly ER/PR+. One of her sisters died from the disease but she ignored her lump for 5 years (this is true) and when she finally let herself be treated she had lung mets and 19 affected nodes. She still did ok for years and lived 5 years beyond diagnosis (passed away in 1995). I am sure if she did something right away, she would still be with us now. My mom is one of the youngest of 11 children so I am one of the youngest cousins and the only one of my generation to have bc. My mom and the 2 sisters who got bc worked in the steel mills as young women (ages 17 - 24). The ones who didn't did not get bc. One brother worked there too and got lung cancer. This was the only cancer in their family. I tested negative for BRCA 1 & 2. I lived on a golf course and in a county in NJ who has the highest rates of bc in the state. This is why I moved in February (to help protect my kids) as golf courses use alot of chemicals. Sometimes I think we (my family) has a mild genetic weakness but some type of exposure pushed us over the edge. Maybe, maybe not. __________________ Kind regards Becky Found lump via BSE Diagnosed 8/04 at age 45 1.9cm tumor, ER+PR-, Her2 3+(rt side) 2 micromets to sentinel node Stage 2A left 3mm DCIS - low grade ER+PR+Her2 neg lumpectomies 9/7/04 4DD AC followed by 4 DD taxol Used Leukine instead of Neulasta 35 rads on right side only 4/05 started Tamoxifen Started Herceptin 4 months after last Taxol due to trial results and 2005 ASCO meeting & recommendations Oophorectomy 8/05 Started Arimidex 9/05 Finished Herceptin (16 months) 9/06 Arimidex Only Prolia every 6 months for osteopenia NED 18 years! Said Christopher Robin to Pooh: "You must remember this: You're braver than you believe and stronger than you seem and smarter than you think"