Young, Pregnant and Delayed Diagnosis of Breast Cancer

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

A 29-year old mother to be, 5 months pregnant, found a lump under her right arm. Her doctor said it was just a part of the pregnancy. Yet seven months after the baby was born, Kim Haag was doing a breast self-exam and discovered that the original lump was still there, and had spawned another lump. She had a breast ultrasound, then a biopsy. Breast cancer was her confirmed diagnosis. With support from her husband Brandon, she dove into treatment: chemotherapy, lumpectomy, radiation, medication. Kim must take Tamoxifen daily and have quarterly injections of Lupron to shut down her ovaries, for the next five years. Her cancer was fueled by estrogen. "Typically, the younger you are, the more aggressive the cancer is, and the harder it is to treat," Kim says.

• A young mother learned early why knowing about breast cancer is important
• Breast Cancer Treatment During Pregnancy
• Increase Your Own Breast Health Awareness
• Do Your Breast Self-Exam (BSE)