Young breast cancer survivor faces her disease head on By Jo-Ann Lamon Reccoppa Diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 29,Manalapan elementary school teacher MelissaTice knew her best chance to fight the disease and minimize her chances of recurrence was to take immediate action. ERIC SUCAR staff Melissa Tice, a Manalapan elementary school teacher, is facing her breast cancer treatment with bravery. Having lived through breast cancer when her mother, a cancer survivor,was diagnosed 18 years before at age 40, Tice routinely performed a self-breast exam each month.When she discovered a small lump in May 2007, she called her doctor right away. "It's shocking and unusual when breast cancer occurs at such a young age," saysTice."Yet it happens - especially when there's a family history of breast cancer." Tice made an appointment with Dr. Nancy Elliot of Montclair Breast Center, at a relative's recommendation.Though caught early, the cancer was found in one breast and there were precancerous cells and calcifications detected in both breasts.With the support of her husband Christopher, as well as her doctors, family and friends,Tice made the courageous decision to have a double mastectomy and greatly reduce the risk of the cancer recurring. She also opted to have immediate breast reconstruction to lessen the emotional trauma of the operation. Working in conjunction with Dr. Elliot, Dr.Allen Rosen, a board-certified plastic surgeon and spokesman for the American Society of Plastic Surgery, began the reconstruction whenTice's double mastectomy was complete - immediately utilizing tissue expanders that are implanted for about three months prior to the permanent implants. "It's a difficult decision to have both breasts removed but I wanted the best possible chance,"Tice says."Of course, waking after having a double mastectomy and feeling the familiar weight of breasts is so encouraging.You never have to see your own body without breasts. I think it gave me the psychological edge I needed to feel whole." Tice still has a few more steps in the recovery process. She is currently undergoing four chemotherapy cycles, then faces 44 weeks of Herceptin - generally given to women in the early stages of breast cancer.Her plastic surgeon is taking a staged approach to Tice's breast reconstruction.While she is undergoing chemo treatments,Tice must wait until January 2008 for Dr. Rosen to complete the surgical process (invasive procedures are not recommended during chemotherapy).When the permanent implants are inserted,Dr. Rosen will create nipples.Areolas will also be tattooed onto the breasts for a natural appearance. The young teacher is also planning for the future and the possibility of motherhood. She and husband Christopher are seeking treatment to freeze their embryos, as chemotherapy can lead to early menopause. Sunny days await the young couple - the normal kind with family, friends, jobs and a happy, healthy lifetime. It is important to remember that although breast cancer in younger women is rare, the fact is that breast cancer can occur at any age.Out of every 1 million women age 25-39, 81.1 will be diagnosed with breast cancer. Early detection is the key to survival, and regular self-breast exams are necessary to discover changes in the breast. If you do feel a lump or a change, contact your doctor for a diagnosis. "Work through your fear,"Tice recommends. "Don't let the shocking diagnosis of breast cancer hold you back from taking immediate action."