Do you ever wonder WHY?
 

Do you ever wonder why your her2 breast cancer happened in the first place? Family history, brca, environment, toxins? I believe I know why for me, I received radiation as an infant for an enlarged thymus...this lead to thyroid cancer 27 years ago and I believe my Her2 breast cancer as well. Ceesun

I Wonder
 

Yes, I wonder. I had about 20+ years of yearly mammograms prior to the cancer, so maybe the radiation played a part.

I also took hormone replacement therapy for about 1 1/2 years before breast cancer. I truly believe that was the trigger.

I took HRT for seven years before diagnosis, and feel upset when I think I was feeding my ER/PR pos. tumor. Hungry little *!@!$@. On the other hand, five great aunts on my mothers side had breast cancer in their fourties, so heredity likely kicked in too. Science needs to know the answers so they can stop this thing!

I wonder too
 

I think that I was almost too contented with my life!! I became complacent about my weight, didn't exercise as much as I should have--probably thought that it would never happen to me!!

Sometimes I feel guilty about "causing" it to happen, but I try to resign myself to it and hope that I can stop it coming back. I don't know if I would have more peace of mind if I knew the cause. Nancy

Funny story (at least to me and my warped mind)...I am in the transplant ward (isolation) here close to home getting my first round of "induction" chemo for the leukemia. This kills off your immune system completely - getting the body ready for the transplant. I am sound asleep in the middle of the night as the voice of God speaks to me, "Do you have Acute Myeloid Leukemia?" With my eyes still closed and my mind all foggy, I speak out, "Yes???" The deep voice then asks me if I worked in the printing industry. Again, I say, "Yes." By now, I realize this can't be God. He already knows where I worked in my life. The voice continues on about benzene causing AML and that benzene was in a lot of the chemicals I used over my 20 year career in the printing industry. You should realize by now that I fell asleep with the tv on and this was a commercial for some attorney that likes to sue large companies for large settlements. I didn't sue anyone, but it did get me thinking...I was originally told the leukemia was caused by chemo, but then I find out that it could have been caused by my job. So was the original breast cancer caused by my job or the fact that I live on what use to be farm land (potatoes supposedly emit some sort of nitrate in the soil that MAY cause cancer...blah, blah, blah)....If you go to the "cancer map," my home is smack dab in the middle of the most cancer ridden place in America. So is this whole mess due to my place of birth, my job...I know it wasn't hereditary for me. I could go on. Was the leukemia going to happen to me anyway without the breast cancer?? Who knows...I drove myself crazy for a while, but have decided it is not worth it. I will never have an absolute answer. I think it's better to spend my time doing more constructive things. You can't change what has already happened..............

Hello there, CEESAN,

From the getgo I didn't question Why Me. I did graze over the fact that my father's mom (grandma) had bc, as did my dad's sister (aunt). I was on HRT for 6 mnths. Might have triggered the problem. I participated in a study (donating a bit of my orig tumor) b/c I lived on Long Island and our bc rate was way higher than anywhere else on the planet (which is an abysmal reality to begin with for all women!). I wanted to help others get to the root cause (was it the water, the pesticides, whatever).

I informed myself about bc. I saw the stats and got sick to my stomach. I decided I wasn't a statistic and that someone had to fall in the little group of survivors the books and articles all spoke of. WHO ARE THEY, I wondered? I decided they were the ones who were actively involved in achieving and maintaining wellness with every fiber of their being. Not the ones who agitated, were filled w/anger, blame, resentment, the inability to forgive and FEAR!

I did, and do, my best to recognize, acknowledge and rid myself of all that negativity as quickly as I can. It only serves to weaken me.

I began reading what I saw as Self Help books. They turned out to impel me on a spiritual journey! I found great comfort and belief in what I was learning! And, believing from personal experience in the MINDBODY CONNECTION since the '70s, I began to realize that the stress I had lived w/definitely impacted my body in varying ways (from aches and pains and headaches to back dysfunction, to bc...). AND THE GOOD NEWS WAS -- though our thoughts can create such woesome problems, we can choose instead to empower ourselves! We can use our thoughts to create a serene and happy environment -- and -- we can use them to draw our desired outcomes to us. I began living AS IF what I wanted already existed in my life.

Wondering, as you describe, is (I decided) not productive. Unless we consciously choose to alter the causes! So that's how I now live. Using supplements, meditation, guided imagery, mantras, trying to eat making healthy choices and connecting with my Spirit and therefore God... I live grateful and joyful w/ea new day! It's my prescription for Wellness!

I have never said POOR ME. I always felt -- it could have been so much worse. I look around and see the many blessings I have that previously went unseen by me. My life is fuller and richer. And I have grown and become more than I ever dreamed of even aiming for!

And of course, my godsend, Herceptin (and all the surg and tx I have endured), plus the expertise and compassion of my docs and nurses all counter in big time as well. Many ingredients go into this survival thing. That's how I see it.

I have tried to mentor others, giving of my heart and myself and my experience. I have been working for 5 yrs on a book, which is a passion, a delight, a mission, a purpose and very cathartic, reinforcing my bedrock belief system that keeps me buoyed.

Sending loving, healing, happy energy to all my Sisters and all on this board,
Andi http://cdn-cf.aol.com/se/smi/2b000001e1/06

Ceesun, You didn't cause your cancer. There are some things that we human beings haven't achieved yet, and there are a million things that we have no control over. At this stage in human evolution, how we got cancer is one of those things about which we can only speculate, not know definitely. Lots of love

Ceesun, Nicola, for a short time, questioned, "why me?", then she said, "why not me?", meaning that she finally understood that she was a special Being in God's plan, as we all are, and she was meant to be where she was, when she was, and when she realized that, she did the best she could in her fight. I became friend's with Jim, at chemo., and he questioned why he had gotten Pancreatic cancer, "Bill, I've never smoked, never been overweight, never drank very much" He was very tired, and asked if he could lean against me and rest while his wife and daughter went to get the car. "Of course, Jim" and I held him up as the car came around and told him like I'll tell anyone, "don't blame yourself for getting cancer, sometimes it just happens. You didn't do anything wrong, it just happened. You can't live your live worrying and fretting about everything you've done or eaten or had to drink in your past. What kind of life is that? Just do the best you can with the cards you're dealt, and that's all you can do, but don't worry yourself over woulda/coulda/shoulda"

I passionately believe that one of the most unhealthy ways to live is obsessing about yesterday. It's over! It cannot be changed. Though I look to learn Lessons not to be repeated -- in the Now -- I reject sorrowful, remorseful thoughts full of regret, blame or guilt. These are useless emotions that only serve to bring me down and defeat me! While I know to treasure the Lessons buried within the obstacles.

I also make it a point not to mistake what I know for all there is! That's big! I have come to learn that we are always exactly where we are supposed to be. That in some deliberate Grand Scheme, we are needed to experience unwanted realities, incomprehensible though that appears. Where I am is a necessary step in becoming who I will be... Wiser. Enriched. Expanded. More than I was yesterday.

For me, my priorities had become out of sync with the true meaning and purpose of my being alive, I think. I see now that my family and those I love were to a certain extent deprived -- because of my disconnection from my Spirit, as of course was I. Bc brought me greater compassion, the genuine desire to understand, a generosity of Spirit in giving my full heart and myself to others, staggering awareness of the beauty that surrounds us and the blessings that I have been given and thus deep gratitude.

My Spirit was given to me by my Source and carries a fragment of the divine energy of that Power, as I see it. Once I merged w/this previously unrecognized radiant and magnificent part of myself, in fact my True Self, I became elevated. We are spiritual beings on a human journey! (How awesome is that!) I began to see the world through the eyes of my Soul. And everything changed! I stopped lingering in yesterday. I stopped fretting about tomorrow. I became firmly planted in The Now. And that's where happiness is!

I live open to miracles. I believe in them. And in my ability to prayerfully call them to me with the power and passion of my most intensely embraced thoughts. EVERY THOUGHT IS A PRAYER. EVERY PRAYER IS A POTENTIAL MIRACLE... That's what I wonder about, Ceesun. Sending loving, healing, happy, serene energy your way...
Andi

I believe to a certain extent it may be helpful to wonder "why" at least as far as the science is concerned. If chemical balances in the body can make a difference in response to treatment, then they may play a role in the formation of cancer also; and vice-versa. I believe we owe it to ourselves and those that follow to at least explore those ideas as we are able (and as we are interested)? I know I have a different vantage point than many, and that is why I stress only as able and interested...

I used to addicted to Diet Coke - I drank between 18 and 24 cans a day. 3 years ago I developed neurological problems which included temporary partial blindness. The problems did not go away until I quite using both aspartame (Nutrasweet) and Splenda.

What I did not know was that aspartame is extremely addictive. I believe my cancer came from using these sweeteners.

I come from a family where everyone lives to be pretty old with very few health problems. I therefore never expected to have cancer.

I have little doubt about how I got the cancer. It was the hormone replacement therapy all doctors in America were instructed to advise their female postmenopausal patients. I blame FDA for its inaptness and poor judgement.

I remember a friend of mine pushing me to go get on Hormone replacement - she practically told me my life depended on, I did not go on it, It is now pretty sad for those who were made to feel they must.

I haven't ever drank diet drinks had hormone replacement or a variety of other reasons people listed here. Overall, I was healthy until this hit except for IBS. There is no family history of cancer. I have always eaten a lot of home grown veges etc. The only big changes in my life I could see prior to breast cancer were a decrease in time outside (office job + college), decrease in physical activity due to career change -long desk/study hours, and increased stress due to both of those factors. I keep asking why - but I don't see answers anywhere.

Ceesun,

I was in the incubator for a while because I was born premature. I am pretty sure that and the birthmark on my father's forhead (My neurosurgeon asked me if anyone in my family had a mole or birthmark on their head)were the cause of my brain tumor (I had had headaches/dizziness since I was little.) And another neurosurgeon told me that 'people who have one type of cancer tend to have another type of cancer' when I was diagnosed with breast cancer two years after the Gamma Knife radiosurgery. My breast cancer gene is probably from my mother who had lymphoma 10 years ago.

And the hormone positive part - I did take birth control pills for a couple of years to control the growth of 3 uterine fibroids (which grew because of 3 fertility treatments - instead of babies, I got fibroids...) So it looks like everything has a 'side effect'. But everything also has an antidote - or the doctor will invent/find one.

Hi all.....

Better late than never.http://her2support.org/vbulletin/images/icons/icon7.gif I guess I never responded because I wasn't sure if I wondered "why" or not. But, I guess I did.

My mom died of pancreas cancer when she was 47 years old. I was 28 when she died. She suffered so incredibly and oh how I never wanted cancer. I often asked God to never give me cancer. I truly believed it wouldn't happen to me. So, when it did...............I was shocked.

Having every kind of cancer imaginable in our family (mom's side) - breast, colon, rectal, kidney and lung I surely shouldn't have been shocked, but I was. I felt betrayed by my body and let down by God. Those are not nice feelings to have.

I've come to believe that genetics play a huge roll. I was an avid exerciser before cancer, took off 30 pounds approximately 10 years before my cancer diagnosis BUT did eat a lot of sugar. Did that "make" me get cancer? I don't know and I'll never know.

So scientifically, knowing what I know, I TRY to do the right things. I try to eat less sugar, exericse more, keep my weight down, take a few supplements, fish oil etc. (just in case I can control this cancer stuff) but me being me, know that in the whole scheme of things my God, who loves me incredibly is control of it all. Did He give me breast cancer? No, I don't believe that at all. I believe we live in a fallen world and bad things happen - period. God knows - sometimes He allows things to happen to us. Why? Only He knows that. However, I can tell you this.........................breast cancer has been a blessing to me. I've grown closer to my God..............I am happier...........I am at peace!

That's all I know for sure. http://her2support.org/vbulletin/images/icons/icon7.gif BUT, that's enough for me.

So, yes, I did wonder "why me?" But, I now feel that I have the answer to that "why" and it's ok.

Hugs and Peace....

Mary Jo

I have a good one for all of you to think about who are beating yourself up..My wife (of 32 years) is 53 and does not fit any of the criteria.No family history,no hormone repalcemant,never smoked,breast feed,has always stayed in great shape(aroebics instucter for 30 years)extremely healthty diet.Tried to do everything right her whole life.Sometimes things just happen.That's the only excuse we can come up with.Stage 3,mamograms missed everything,discovered in lymphnodes.We just pray now.

Yep, brother, sometimes things just happen, kinda like Jonesy said. Sometimes you might be able to put a finger on what caused your cancer, but sometimes you do everything right and have no family history of it, and it happens anyway. That's what makes it such a diabolical disease and why research at this point is going in so many different directions, but I believe at some point in the near future all of the researches will converge upon the answer.

I'm with you Marejo. I think genetics plays a big role in the 'why' though at the time of diagnosis I asked the question of 'what did I do wrong'. I have a reasonably healthy lifestyle so immediately I blamed myself.
But like you, my last generation went done like beer and skittles with various types of cancer, and my own generation across brothers, sisters and cousins has to suffer a choice of Systemic Lupus, Gillian Bare Syndrome, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Breast Cancer, or Diabetes. All immune deficiency related diseases.
I took the pill for years and also HRT for the last two years and wonder if that contributed. However, the stats show that if you smoke there is more chance of getting cancer than taking HRT.
I always went for a mammogram every two years because my mother had breast cancer, and because of this one action my lump was found. I had gone to see my docter eight months before diagnosis to ask for a lupus test because I was not feeling well, and it came back with an auto-immune reading. My doctor (no longer seen) did nothing. What I am saying is that, I believe my system was designed to implode at one time one way or the other, and I got given this card.
I move on with my life because this weekend I celebrated survival with my friends as its been a year since I was called back for a biopsy. I raised my glass today to all those wonderful researchers whose knowledge and determination may keep us alive.

I'm convinced my Her2+ tumor was caused by early exposure to DDT. My mother grew up in Ireland back in the 30's - life for them was similar to life in the 1700's in this country.......no running water.......cooking over an open hearth, living in a thatched cottage. They suffered terribly with bed bugs.......until the invention of DDT. To this day I can hear my mother and grandmother saying, "God bless the man who invented DDT!" My mother kept a supply of DDT in the basement - and used it liberally on all her beautiful plants. She and her friends lamented that DDT wasn't invented earlier, especially since a 7 year old boy in our neighborhood died from meningitis from a mosquito bite. I also recall back in the 60's when planes would spray insectiside over the beaches of Long Island Sound to reduce the mosquito population. I've done some research online and the newest studies are pointing to pre-pubsecent exposure to DDT as a possible cause for breast cancer. Older studies didn't show any connections because they only inquired about women's exposure to DDT 10 years prior to their dx - once they went back FURTHER into a woman's past, they found the connection.

I never thought I was at a high risk for breast cancer - no one in my immediate family had BC - I had a late period (age 15) early menopause (48) breast fed three children, never took the birth control pill, never took HRT, exercised strenuously and regularly all my life and had a normal BMI (until menopause when I gained about 30 pounds.) My only vice throughout life was an addiction to diet colas, starting with Tab. I used to work for a cancer research doctor back in the late 70's and he used to drink about 7 cans of tab a day. My joke was, "When Dr. Caruso' stops drinking Tab, I'll stop drinking Tab!" Later, of course, I switched to Diet Coke and Diet Pepsi. After my surgery, I couldn't stand the taste of any diet sodas - so I've been sticking with water or fruit juice these days.

Ultimately I believe my weight gain and added stress in my life "triggered" my breast cancer (I read a study that said being overweight increases a woman's risk of breast cancer by 50%) However, I believe my breast cancer was really the result of my early exposure to DDT.

I'm not one to "cry over spilt milk" - however, examining our past can provide some semblance of understanding - and for scientists - it's absolutely essential for defining risk factors to help prevent cancer from developing in other people. The world of science is a mystical, magical and mysterious place - and may God guide us all, including the research scientists, on our journeys towards the Truth!

Ditto to that.

I was exposed to DDT as well when I was little. The routine of the family back then was to spray the DDT after supper, closed the door and windows, go out for a walk, then come home and let the air out through the screen door and windows.

I was also exposed to asbestos and pesticide for fleas at work from 1987 to 1990, just before my huge brain tumor was discovered - the pesticide caused huge headaches.

10 years later, in another worksite, within 6 months after I had worked in a huge room under the newly repaired roof (with tars? - it smelled terrible and my new boss scheduled me to work the Saturday right after the work was done Friday afternoon), my 3 residue tumors suddently doubled their sizes.

2 1/2 years later, I found out that I had breast cancer - my surgeon had mentioned the estimated time and I was just shocked that I had been poisoned. My employer has strong ties with the Army, so my local EPA agent (who was also my church member back then) disuaded me from persuing any inquiry.

We need to start a campaign just like Rachel Carson's Silent Spring did back in the 70's.

For me, well I have the gene (BRCA2). Then when I was in elementary school, I had this rash in my arm and was treated weekly with this ultraviolet light and that may have also increased my chances....possibly.
All I can say now is....I am what I am and I do, seriously, count my multitude of blessings. I have a good life, lots of love, healthy family, and I am filled with gratitude.
Maryanne

Yes, Maryanne, we all have got so much blessings.

Your 'light-treatment' reminded me of my 'incubator' experience while a pre-mee. (Of course I did not 'remember' any part of it.) I was put in an incubator for many weeks after I was born prematurely and my body tempreture would not rise. My Mother eventually brought me home out of an older woman's advice in the hospital.

She held me close to her body as was advised by the old lady and eventually I was O.K. Though I was always weak and prone to having colds and fevers growing up. Besides the birthmark on top of my father's forehead, I think I can also relate my brain tumor to the 'heat' treatment in the neonatotal unit. But I have not linked my breast cancer to it. Now seems it all made sense.

I do believe I know why
 

I honestly believe that the building that I work in and still do work in, is the main cause of my cancer. I left work for years with horrible headaches. I would leave work, go home and go to bed and sleep until the alarm went off the following morning.

After my diagnosis, I tried to get disability so I did not have to go back into this building. I was denied. I called OSHA and they checked the building out and found out that there was stagnet air and very little oxygen in this building. Hence, we now have a new "air" system. This still does not get rid of the mold, mildew, moisture and all the critters that come with the environment.

Yes, I am still here only due to insurance. Is there anyone on this site that is fighting the awful disease not have insurance? If so, could you please give me some advise on the ups and downs of not having insurance?

Me and my body would love to work a part-time job but I don't see how this would be possible since part-timers do not recieve insurance.

Thanks in advance for any help

Anita

I have often wondered if part of it isn't simply the result of the combination of your mom's dna and your dad's dna and just a rogue cellular misfire (these are layman's terms, so please don't laugh)...

Also, I think a lot of it might have to do with what our diet was when we were little children (2-6 or 8 yrs maybe) when our cells are growing and dividing very quickly, and tremendously impacted by and dependent on the nutrition in our diet. In my case it was the 60s and the 'shelf life' convenience foods with lots of preservatives had just started to come into fashion for our moms... as well as that's when the meats and milk were starting to be 'hormone enhanced' - and it was the dawn of partially hydrogenated crap and high fructose corn syrup, blah blah blah... I have talked with my doc about it and he thinks that the diet in our youngest years might play a role in our risk.

As well as what is in our tap water... the flouride (which most cities purchase as runoff from pesticide and chemical plants) and the chlorine - are not supposed to be ingested. And to think about all the medications that people take that are passed through the body and flushed, just to be treated and pumped back to us again and again as drinking water... yikes.

I live in the country so fields around me are sprayed with "safe" chemicals. And I've wondered if that's part of mine. I know of about 30 women in town with some form of bc and there are others with other kinds.

I never wondered why me. I wondered when was it going to hit as genetics played a big part in my breast cancer. I did all the "right things to ward it off" . When it finally hit I decided ok I can deal with this now. My biggest fear now is when is it going to return. In my research I have found that most BC patients do recurr at some point in their life, be it 5 years or 20 years. It always come back. Only now we have better drugs to do battle with.

Hmmm...though I will never really "know" why I got/what caused my BC, here are some things that have crossed my mind:

1. Drinking 2 Red Bulls a day
2. Smoking
3. Poor Diet (see above, wink wink)
4. IVF
5. 2nd ectopic loss almost 2 years to the day of discovering my lump
6. Lump was in exact same place that my son used to pinch me ALL THE FRIGGIN' TIME while he was nursing
7. Pregnancy 6 years previously
8. Paternal grandmother had BC at age 70
9. Using too many Clorox wipes (I was OCD at one point, ya' know)
10. Lack of consistent, planned exercise
11. Luck of the draw ;)

To be honest, I haven't really ever dwelled on "why" or "what"? I have to many other questions in my life that could be answered to linger on one that never will! It's the only thing I have been able to not obsess about during this whole thing.

BTW: even if IVF, pregnancy, or being pinched contributed, I wouldn't give them back for all the healthy breast tissue in the world.

Take care,

I am not sure if this was ever done on here so if not, could we maybe take a poll of who took hormone replacement therapy prior to diagnosis and which type and for how long? My periods became infrequent then stopped and my gynie said lets try synthetic progestin short term to see if it will bring on a period and it should help with the severe hot flashes as well. I was very hesitant and then she told me it would protect me against uterine cancer. I took it for 5 days every other month for a period less then a year. I do believe that along with my compromised immune system due to my Sjogrens Syndrome may have caused it but I will never know for sure. There is no history of cancer at all on either side of my family. Regardless, knowing doesn't help me but could help others so I hope they can determine risk factors more precisely with progestin and I would recommend strongly that no one takes hormone therapy. Just my opinion for what it's worth.
Rina

I was given birth control pills when we found the three uterine fibroids developed a year after I had had 3 months infertility treatment. After my first breast cancer diagnosis, my oncologist told me to quit the birth control pills right away. I believe the hormone positive part of my breast cancer was triggered by the pills I took.

I was hormone negative but I still believe hormones had a play in it.

The interesting thing about this thread is that almost everyone has a different "why". I never wondered "Why me?". As a matter of fact, when I got the news that I had bc I was not a bit surprised. I think that cancer, like s***, happens. It happens to those with high risk factors and it happens to those who do everything right. Siblings brought up together, same environment, same risk factors - one gets cancer, the other doesn't. Why? Now, that's the question. DNA, Brenda's "rogue cellular misfire" or just plain dumb luck? Sure, some of it can be traced to environmental causes, but there has to be a common link somewhere. Finding it is the "needle in a hay stack" dilemma scientists face.

I truly believe that Dr. Susan Love is on the right track when she says that more money needs to be spent finding out how to prevent cancer not how to cure it. Of course, I am all for a cure for those of us affected - sign me up! But wouldn't it be a wonderful world if no one ever had to go into treatment for this horrid disease again?

I never wondered why me but how me. I took birth control pills a long time, never had a child, and then
took HRT for lots of years and my BC was 90% ER positive? Who knows, when the Dr. said it was BC
the second thing he said was, no more estrogen for
you.
patb

Why me
 

Where I grew up in Scotland there was a Glaxo plant and all the locals swear the fumes from the plant had a lot to do with the Cancer. Alot of the girls I grew up have passed away from it. Myself I just had my 2nd mastectomy last month. Had a bone scan today and thankfully it looks like the scans were good. So we don't really know how this all happens. Hugs and Blessings , Jeanette

I have to comment here because Gerri hit the nail on the head. I believe many things. First, I believe many cases of bc can be prevented and at LEAST primary care physicians should tell you that you're fat, you need to exercise, you need to eat your veggies and fruit, you need to take Omega 3 and eat fish. This is good for all disease conditions, not just bc. I believe for many of us, we have genetic predispositions that mix poorly with environmental conditions that exist at a certain moment in time. I think the body can keep these in check year in and year out but then, something else just gives and wham. I think this happens to most of us that have cancers (bc and others) in our families but are clearly tested BRCA neg (BRCA positive is clear). Our biological sisters who are unaffected may not have some of these genes or may not have hit the numerous steps in the process (and may never hit them).

My mother, 2 of her sisters - bc and my paternal grandmother - ovarian. I am BRCA negative but clearly there are pre-disposition genes. Pre bc - I am a chemist by education (high level) and first jobs. I was overweight, smoker (quit 1993), diet pepsi addict, non-exerciser. I ate alot of veggies but never fruit. I am totally different now. I am hoping the changes in my cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides etc prove that perhaps other healthy changes occured. My 2 (bio) sisters and brother are cancer free as are 30 female cousins (from both sides). I am the first of my generation yet one of the youngest cousins.

I am trying to bet that food is medicine (or a poison) and that that and exercise will prevent recurrence or a new cancer.

Prevention in the first place is key. Although those that truly take care of themselves get cancer, they are few (and as RB says, are they eating the right fats)?

We can only do our best and go from there.

Love to all of my sisters

Hi Cathy,

Like MJo, I also took HRT. For three years after having a full hysterectomy at age 46 for fibroids, I took Premarin. I wasn't going to have my ovaries removed but kept getting warnings from my gynecologist and the surgeon about ovarian cancer and how I'd never have to worry about that if the ovaries were removed. I went for my annual mammo (five months late, actually) three days after I stopped taking Premarin and there were two tumors in my right breast -- one DCIS and one infiltrating tumor.

I believe that even though I'm estrogen negative, the removal of the ovaries in combination with the synthetic estrogen caused a radical change in my endocrine system resulting in a major adjustment to my normal immune system and allowing the cancer to grow.

That's just my theory.

Joan

Hi Patb,

The statistics did say that childless women have a higher risk of getting breast cancer. The thing to me is, is it because they did not have children or because they 'could not' have children. I think 'not able to' says something about possible genetic problems that predisposed us (me) to breast cancer.

Oh, sure, like many, I've wondered why bc happened to me because I wanted to know what I could have and should have done to prevent it. However, I'm afraid, I'll never have that answer, as science has not yet revealed it fully. However, I believe that taking the birth control pill before my first pregnancy for several months put me at risk, as this is a newly discovered risk factor. Personally, I think the FDA should be shot for allowing widespread HRT and birth control without informed consent and proper testing. The kind of warning on these meds should be a black box, somewhat like Herceptin's black box warning.

Besides birth control putting me at risk, I also wonder if I had the genetic make-up for it since both of my grandmothers died of bc, since my great grandma had colon cancer, and since my father has had basal cell skin carcinmona, along with myself.

Outside of genetics and hormonal causes, I also sustained a crushing injury to my breast where within a year my cancerous breast lump happened to showed up. Science will tell you that breast injuries don't cause bc. However, I wonder if it could in a situation where you already had some hyperplasia going on and injury is just the next insult to cause progression of that hyperplasia to cancer.

Lord, who knows EXACTLY why I got bc when I ate well, was thin, never drank, and never smoked or did drugs. I just don't know what caused it precisely. Though, if I had it to do over again, I would definitely avoid birth control pills and I would wear steel shields to protect those babies; either that or have them cut off completely and hang on the mantel for decoration-haha.