First, as a “young” (40s) breast cancer survivor, this is my worst nightmare. I was diagnosed with Stage 1A. I was very lucky to have caught it when I did, I was 42 and you normally don’t get your first mammogram until 50. I finished treatment almost 3 years ago. I still have consent anxiety about a recurrence or worse - recurrence + it metastasized. In my support group you join and then you leave when you die and I have watch far too many young women leave in the last 4 years.

Secondly, Stage 4 might be incurable but its not a quick death sentence anymore. With proper management de novo breast cancer like this can be kept in check for decades. It’s not the same as life without cancer, but also, if you get stage 4 breast cancer, its not the end.

Bottom line - don’t let anyone tell you you are too young to get checked for any cancer and if you have been putting it off, do it now. Its better to know at Stage 1 and do the treatment when its the most effective and the easiest.