Breast cancer before age 30 is life changing (French) (Frédérique’s story)

March 1, 2011

In this video, Frédérique talks about being diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 28 and how it changed her

Watch as Frédérique talks about receiving her diagnosis of breast cancer alone in the doctor’s office. She also talks about being a special case because of her age and needing to protect her fertility.

She shares the need for support, about preparing for the worst and hoping for the best, not wanting to lose what she has learned and how she sees her life starting at 30. Everything she didn’t like about her old life she’s going to toss aside.

All I can say that I have learned a lot about myself. I have a new outlook on life that I want to keep and apply to my new life. This is a really special time, it’s a brand-new life. Some people think that life begins at 40 or 50; mine is starting at 30. This is how I’m choosing to look at it.

Everything I did not like about my old life, I’m tossing aside. I’m entitled to a fresh start; that’s how I’m looking at it. Which means I’m going to do better, do my best to take it all in. I do not want to forget everything I’ve learned.

Watch the video of Frédérique talking about breast cancer as a young adult (in French)

The Partnership’s Person-Centred Perspective initiative is committed to improving the patient experience. We are working with partners across Canada to find the best ways to offer a person-centred perspective throughout a person’s cancer journey and to help information flow throughout. The impact of a cancer diagnosis goes far beyond the physical disease. It affects every aspect of a person’s life. The initiative has focused on reporting about the patient experience, and giving health-care providers patient-centred tools and resources, which have been validated and standardized.