Here is an alarming statistic: Breast cancer diagnoses in women under 50 have been rising by approximately 1.5 percent each year for the past five years, according to the American Cancer Society. That statistic hit close to home for us at Southwest Ohio Parent recently — two of our staff members were diagnosed with breast cancer within around a week of each other.
Katie Clark, associate publisher of Southwest Ohio Parent, discovered a lump while doing a breast self-exam in the shower. Wendy Hasser, digital publisher of Southwest Ohio Parent, felt something hard in her breast, but initially brushed it off as dense breast tissue. Both women, ages 38 and 36 respectively, were younger than the recommended age for routine mammograms, which typically start at age 40. Statistically, around 80% of women under the age of 40 find their breast abnormality themselves.
Katie and Wendy have graciously decided to share their breast cancer story with our readers. We’re hoping it helps to shine a light on how prevalent this disease is becoming in younger women. Most importantly, we want to get the message out that if something doesn’t feel right, get it checked out! It can save your life.
Katie, you were diagnosed first. Can you tell us about it?
Katie: I first found the lump in August, and scheduled a visit with my doctor within two weeks. That prompted a mammogram, an ultrasound, and then a biopsy. It was a lot of waiting in between appointments. I received word on September 10 that it was cancer.
Wendy, you went in for an exam shortly before Katie was diagnosed.
Wendy: The bump kept waking me up at night, and I decided that I better just get it checked out so I could sleep better. Katie was diagnosed the day before I went in for my first appointment. From that point, I kinda just knew it was happening to me, too. So when I was actually diagnosed a week later, I had processed a lot of it already. I think the diagnosis was actually harder for the people around me.
Katie, what was your diagnosis like for you?
Katie: I was a wreck. I cried a lot and it always hit hard at night. The anticipation from all the waiting really weighed heavy on me. As a mom to two young kids (4 and 8), I was just scared of not being there for them and my husband.
Both of you have husbands and young children. It must have been so difficult to tell them about the diagnosis.
Wendy: Telling my husband was by far the hardest. He was working when I got the news, and I pretty much told him last. I knew telling him would make this all feel a lot more real.
Katie: I told my husband as soon as I found the lump and he immediately told me to go to the doctor. So he was with me from day one! We held back on telling our kids until we knew my treatment plan and surgery date. After that, we sat them down individually and told them in a way they would understand. Our youngest, who is 4, is too young to really understand much thankfully, but it hit our daughter (8) hard. The word “cancer” was very scary for her. We told her the most important thing she needed to know was that “Mommy is brave and Mommy is going to be OK.” We would repeat that every night before bed. She ended up being an incredibly rallying spirit for me while we waited for surgery. She made pink bracelets for us both (with the word BRAVE on it), and made so many pictures and notes of encouragement. She’s a special little girl!
Where are you in your treatment plan? How are you feeling?
Wendy: I am halfway through the chemo portion of my treatment. It kinda feels like that halfway point in pregnancy when you’ve been pregnant forever, and still have so much longer to go. I am taking a lot more naps these days, but trying to do as many normal things as possible. I’m still playing pickleball one to two times a week, it is just a much slower version than before.
Katie: Right now, I am completely cancer-free and am feeling pretty good four weeks post-op. I had a bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction on November 4. Though, the first few days were extremely tough and I was in a lot of pain. After the pain became more manageable and then subsided, I had a hard time with all the restrictions and just letting people do things for me. I had to learn to stay put, rest and ask for help, which is hard! We found out last week that with the combination of my early stage, mastectomy, and my low markers means that I do not have to undergo chemotherapy or radiation.
Did anyone in your medical team mention that they’ve seen more young women being diagnosed?
Wendy: That was one of the first things my doctor said, that he had seen more women under 40 in the last year than ever before.
Katie: I got two opinions after my diagnosis, and BOTH surgeons commented that they’ve seen younger women coming in and getting diagnosed. I also knew a fellow mom also under 40 who shared her triple negative diagnosis. Her story stuck with me from day one, and she was actually one of the first people I reached out and confided in. Her story scared me into getting myself checked sooner than later.
What advice do you have for other young women regarding breast health?
Katie: Be aware and comfortable with your body, and stay on top of your check ups with your doctors. Everyone should make a point every single month to do their breast self-exams after their period and as part of their routine. It is so scary to think how much worse off my situation would have been if I hadn’t caught it and waited until I was 40.
Wendy: If you feel anything at all, ask your doctor for a mammogram. There is a huge chance it is only dense breast tissue. But if it’s not, catching it at an early stage is a lot different than a later stage. Breast cancer treatments have come so far in the last 20 years. It’s not very fun, but it is curable. The earlier it is caught, the easier your treatment will be. Breast cancer doesn’t have to end or ruin your life!
