Breast Cancer at 21

At the end of April 2021, I found a lump on my left breast in the shower and booked into the doctors straight away. My mom had ovarian cancer 5 years previous and is a BRCA1 mutation carrier so I knew it should be checked ASAP.
I sat for my college exams, and then, after some delays, I was diagnosed on June 4th 2021 with Stage 3 Grade 3 Triple Negative Invasive Ductal Carcinoma. To be told I had such an aggressive form of breast cancer at only 21 years old was a huge shock. I was then told I too was a BRCA1 mutation carrier.
Due to my age, I underwent a round of IVF before starting 20 weeks of ACT regimen chemotherapy. I had surgeries in December and January, and then completed 15 sessions of deep inspiration breath hold radiation in March of this year. It was definitely tough having to take a year out from college, losing my hair and all the things that come with being unwell. Undergoing cancer treatment during the covid pandemic was also quite difficult as I was by myself for all my treatments and surgeries and had to isolate myself a bit to prevent myself from getting covid. The last 10 months have been a whirlwind but thankfully, I am now finished with treatment, I’m back playing sport, back to work and ready to return to college to complete my final year of Neuroscience in September.