“ER” actress Maura Tierney, 59, is among a growing number of people faced with a cancer diagnosis at a relatively young age. She was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer at 44. Despite her initial shock, she soon realized she wasn’t alone.
“I was very shocked and surprised because of my age. I’ve since learned that it’s not that shocking; there are plenty of young women diagnosed with breast cancer,” she explained to Coping Magazine.
RELATED: More Young Women Are Being Diagnosed With Breast Cancer — What’s Behind The Surprising New Increase? There are about 11,000 women aged 40 and under diagnosed with breast cancer every year in the U.S., says Dr. Ann Partridge, an oncologist at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. That figure is a fraction of the more than 313,000 women estimated to be diagnosed with breast cancer this year. “Young women are more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer that is more aggressive,” Dr. Partridge tells SurvivorNet.
“Their disease is more likely to be of the subtypes of breast cancer because breast cancer isn’t one disease. The ones that are more aggressive tend to be what we call a greater stage. That is, they’re more likely to have bigger tumors and more likely to have lymph node involvement at diagnosis than older women. Part of that is because young women aren’t typically being screened,” Dr. Partridge continued.
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Helping Patients Understand Why Mammograms Matter
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Breast Cancer Screenings
Mammograms are used to screen for breast cancer. Women who haven’t gone through menopause are encouraged to get a mammogram annually between the ages of 45 and 54. If you have experienced menopause, you can get a mammogram every two years.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends women begin screening for breast cancer at age 40. Women should talk with their doctor to learn about their cancer risk and assess when a good time is to start annual mammograms.
WATCH: How often should you get mammograms?
“We all agree regular screening mammography saves lives,” Dr. Connie Lehman, a professor at Harvard Medical School, told SurvivorNet.
Suppose you fit into the high-risk category for breast cancer, meaning a close family relative has been diagnosed. People at higher risk may have the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation or had radiation to the chest area when they were young. In cases like this, people in the high-risk category should begin annual mammograms at 30 years old.
Maura Tierney’s Breast Cancer Journey
Maura Tierney’s breast cancer journey began after she found a lump in her breast. She went to get a mammogram to get it checked out by her doctor, and that’s when she was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 44.
Part of Tierney’s shock after her diagnosis stemmed from the likelihood of breast cancer risk growing as you age. Most people diagnosed with breast cancer are 50 or older, according to the CDC.
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Following her diagnosis, Tierney underwent a skin-sparing mastectomy, which is the removal of the entire breast during surgery. According to research published in Gland Surgery, skin-sparing mastectomies “optimize the cosmetic outcomes of smaller incisions and preserve breast anatomy.”
“It’s scary to think you have to have a mastectomy, but I had a great plastic surgeon and a great reconstruction,” Tierney said.
There are several factors to weigh when considering a mastectomy, chief among them being whether breast-conserving surgery (or lumpectomy) is possible. Your doctor will look at the size and features of your tumor and your family history to make a recommendation.
Tierney then received chemotherapy treatments after her surgery.
“Looking back at my experience, one of the main challenges I faced was that I just didn’t know what to expect from the chemotherapy my doctors told me I needed,” Tierney said.
“I was very, very afraid anticipating the chemotherapy. I had a tremendous amount of anxiety,” Tierney said.
“I worried that I would be so sick that I wouldn’t be able to get up or even leave the house. Fortunately, this turned out to be untrue for me,” she added.
Managing Chemotherapy and Its Side Effects
Chemotherapy is an effective tool for oncologists to help treat cancer by stopping cancerous cells from growing, dividing, and spreading to other organs. Chemo works by traveling through the bloodstream, killing cancerous cells. However, the process also impacts healthy cells, leading to side effects.
Patients almost universally experience fatigue, often alongside gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea. Doctors have many effective medications to combat chemo-induced nausea. “But mitigating that fatigue often depends on the patient,” Dr. Renata R. Urban, a gynecologic oncologist at the University of Washington,tells SurvivorNet.
“Neuropathy is probably one of the most challenging side effects,” Dr. Urban continued.
Neuropathy results from damage to the peripheral nerves. It usually resolves after chemotherapy treatment, but sometimes symptoms can persist. While it’s typically characterized by numbness or a pins-and-needles sensation in the hands and feet, neuropathy can have several different symptoms, including:
- Weakness in the hands or feet
- Stabbing or burning pain in the hands or feet
- Difficulty gripping, such as when holding a fork
- Difficulty with fine motor skills, such as writing or buttoning a shirt
Nausea and vomiting are common side effects of chemotherapy. When chemotherapy affects the rapidly dividing cells in the stomach lining, the resulting cellular havoc in the gastrointestinal tract can lead to side effects such as nausea and vomiting. However, doctors can help patients mitigate the hit with various medications before, during, and after treatment.
“Part of the chemotherapy prescription includes a set regimen of anti-nausea medications…We also ensure patients have medications at home that they can use should they develop nausea after treatment,” Dr. Urban added.
WATCH: Adjusting Chemo to Mitigate Side Effects
Tierney credits her ability to cope throughout her breast cancer journey to being armed with reliable information from her doctor. Experts SurvivorNet has spoken with agree that learning all you can about your disease and treatment options can be a helpful way to ease your fears about the unknown.
“When I was going through my cancer treatment, I learned that you can never ask a stupid question. I asked every single question that came to mind, and I believe that helped to calm my own anxiety, “Tierney said.
The actress said she has no evidence of the disease and is grateful for life after cancer.
“I have a lot of gratitude for sure. I’m deeply grateful for my family and for science, technology, and medicine,” Tierney said.
Tierney advised other cancer patients to “Hang in there.”
“It sounds simple, but hang in there. That’s what I’m doing,” Tierney added.
What To Ask Your Doctor
If you have been diagnosed with breast cancer, you may have questions about keeping your strength through treatment. Here are a few questions to help you begin the conversation with your doctor:
- What treatment will I be receiving?
- What side effects are associated with this treatment?
- Are there steps I can take daily to help minimize these side effects?
- What physical activity routine do you recommend for me during treatment?
- Do you have recommendations for someone who doesn’t particularly enjoy exercise?
- Can you recommend a dietician who can help me with healthy eating tips and weight maintenance?
- I’ve been having trouble sleeping. Do you have any treatment recommendations?
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Kavontae Smalls is a writer and reporter for SurvivorNet. Read More
