What Caused My Breast Cancer?

There is no one who can answer that question.

I have no immediate relative who has had breast cancer or any other type of cancer. So it does not seem genetic.

They call cancer as "lifestyle" disease. Here are the more common risk factors and some "un-confirmed" causes and a review of my own circumstances.

Age: Risk increases with age. I am only 36 years old during diagnosis. NOT THE CAUSE. Surprisingly, I found so many young breast cancer stories online.

Use of birth control pills: I used pills for a total of 9 months only. For a period of 3 months, a 2 year break, then 6 months. NOT THE CAUSE.

Poor Diet: I would fairly say that I am health conscious. You won't see any instant noodles in my pantry. Hotdogs are for my kids only. Soda, doughnut, cakes...sugar is a once a week treat.  I eat chocolates on a daily basis though..meals are mostly meat. I liked beef, once or twice a week. Fair amount of fruits and vegetables. I've been juicing for about a year, 1 to 2 times a week. My general health exam results in March 2015 were very good!  My mostly meat diet MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED, meat nowadays contain high levels of growth hormones. Chicken used to be full grown by 45 days, now they only need 28 days. Animal feed ads proudly display "bilis laki, bilis kita" (quicker growth, quiker $$$).  Sadly, I've seen people eat worse. 

Stress: Who is not stressed in this life? MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED, my oncologist advised me to avoid stress. 

Obesity and Lack of Exercise: Based on the World Health Organization BMI tables, my weight was on the normal range.  Asian tables however say I am partially obese. On heavy days, I would be 62 Kg, standing 157 cm. I am guilty of having a sedentary lifestyle, my reqular exercise would a be a daily 15 minute walk to and from the office. MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED.

Use of Anti-perspirant: Daily use, just like so many other women out there. NOT THE CAUSE.

Alcohol and Smoking: I love myself to be doing these! NOT THE CAUSE.

I spent weeks reading but can't really find the true root cause. There's probably something wrong within my body that caused this. They say that one should look 5 and 10 years before diagnosis. Well, 5 and 10 years ago were when I conceived my pretty babies.  Hormones are lower during pregnancy, studies suggest that having multiple pregnancies reduce the risk of breast cancer.

However I try to fit the pieces, I won't be able to find out now what caused my breast cancer. But I am hoping that one day, researchers would be able to tell.

Please wake me up from this nightmare

Hubby was with me when I got the diagnosis but we did not have a chance to really talk about it. We proceeded with the chores we had planned to do that day. We were not talking. We were both in shock!

Other than hubby, I informed my boss immediately without a thought. I probably  did that because I knew my work will be highly affected by my situation. 

I was back to work the next day after diagnosis. I have 4 more days to work before my scheduled trip back home to Baguio. I'm faced with a long list of things to accomplish at work and I need to pack stuff to bring home. 


In between doing my best to complete a mountain of tasks, I would remember.... I have cancer.... is it for real? is this really happening? 


I would ask myself whether I am dreaming. This could be a bad dream and I just needed to wake up.  Can somebody please wake me up from this nightmare?


We went home to Baguio to celebrate Mama's 70th birthday. I didn't know how to give this bad news to my family at this supposed happy moment. 


I had to. Because I did not know how to move on. 


"I sustain myself with the love of family."
- Maya Angelou


"Family is the most important thing in the world."
- Princess Diana

My Breast Cancer Diagnosis

I am not sure where I learned about self breast examination but I do it from time to time.  I've always had problems with my monthly periods so I keep a record of dates when I have them and other issues I notice such as UTI as I also often have this problem.  Based on my record, I felt the lump on the lower portion of my right breast on March 2015. 

Not sure about the lump so I decided to check it regularly the following months.  The lump does not go away with my periods, I also started feeling short needle-like pains on my right breast.  In June, I felt itchiness on my right breast.  It was a disturbing itch that I needed to run to the ladies room to scratch it.  The lump, pain and itchiness were driving me nuts that out of nowhere, I squeezed my breast and there was discharge, light orange in color. I tried to smell it if it was pus or anything, there was no smell. Everyday after that I would squeeze my breast and there would be a tiny bit of discharge.  One time, I examined my breasts in front of the mirror and there I saw a big dimple, right where I could feel the lump.

Do you check Google whenever you feel sick and try to find a "diagnosis"?

I do! I would check Google when my kids are sick and try to find home remedies.  Google (the internet) is a good help all the time.

Search for breast lump.... Breast Cancer will surely be one of the recommendations.  This scared me! So I started reading....and I got more scared.  On the list of signs of breast cancer, I have them... a lump that does not go away, itchiness, discharge, dimpling...so do I have breast cancer??? 

My mind was really troubled, I would cry at the thought of having cancer.  Just looking at my kids brings buckets of tears and fears that I won't be there for them while they grow up.  Too much emotions gripped me. 

I visited the GP for referral to see a breast specialist.  I had to wait 2.5 weeks.  August was filled with hospital appointments. Ultrasound, Mammogram and Biopsy. 

On the afternoon of August 31, 2015, the doctor looked at me and said "I am afraid I don't have good news for you, you have cancer".  The nurse handed me a tissue.