DCIS- double mastectomy or not??

yasminv1

Lovegolf,

That sure is a Yorkie in my avatar. It's my little angel Biggie Smalls.

Lovegolf

I have 3 yorkies all named for wines....Ruston, the one in the picture and Sterling..i call them the go-go twins...they go an go and fall down and sleep.  they are a year old.  Then we got Talley who is 4months old.  They have been so good the past few weeks with me. 

Freedie

I know how you feel.  I made choice to have double mast. I did not want to worry DCIS had jumped around.  I figure i was damn lucky to caught it now and scared I might not be so lucky again.  That is what really made the decision for me. It is your decision alone.....do what is best for you. do what gives the most peace.  That is all you can do.

Amadori

I am 49 years old and just had a lumpectomy for DCIS Stage 0.  The margins were not clear and since there is extensive DCIS in my breast, we are now going in for a masectomy with immediete reconstruction.  I am considering doing the other breast so I dont have to worry about cancer on the other side and not have to take tamoxifen.  Does anyone agree with that decision?  Also, has anyone had any experience with immediete reconstruction without the expander, just a implant directly inserted at time of masectomy?

Amadori

3girls4me:

 Can you tell me what was the determining factor in taking both breasts off and have you regreted your decision at all?  Also, did you do immediete reconstruction with or without expanders?  I cant decide if it makes sense to remove the non cancerous right breast.  My BS said it was extreme to take it just to stay off tamoxifen.  That drug scares me.

brazos58

I had benign calcs in my r breast in 2/08...had a sterotatic bx. Went thru the every 6 month mammos x2. Then off to 1 year check.  No lie... I had a 4cm run of calcifications in the area adjacent to the first biopsy.....had to have a core bx. That showed DCIC with commedo necrosis, grade 3 and ALH. Had a lumpectomy with Wire Localization in 5/10. Met with Rad Onc..and d/t the high grade I was not a candidate for Mammosite.... it was Rad or Mastectomy. I knew rads was not even a place I would visit.

I am also DES exposed. The studies I have read state minimal increase in Breast Cancer rates to as far rating as high as having possible 1st Degree Relatives... There is not enough clear evidence as we Boomers are all hitting our 40-50's.....let alone all the Clear Cell Vaginal Cancers we were observed for in our teens and twentys....

I was told I had a 25% chance of a recur.... of DCIS, and d/t my Grade, it was a 50% chance it could be Invasive.... by Rad Onc.

My BS told me he thought it was OVERKILL for a bilateral mastectomy.  I followed my instinct and sure enuff the prophy side had ADH..... it was on its way to misbehaving.

I don't regret my choice. Each day I grow more confident that I did the right thing for me. And I have no interest in Recon and its nightmares. I wanted no more mammograms, 2nd takes, call backs....sterio biopsys or core biospsys, lumpectomys or wire localizations. I have had ENOUGH is what I came too.

It is a major journey into grief.... losing your breasts.

Very tough decision... I followed my intellect/ 6th sense/ gut/ and asked for alot of Spritual Guidance by my Higher Power. 

Now I will be watched for recurance for 6 months for the next 5 years by my BS. Rad Oncology does not want to see me... am still researching on wether I need medical onc.

Strength and Answers

melissa-5-19

I was DX'ed with DCIS - had a bilate MX over a year ago- I am older than you by 20 years- but have never looked back, my life is full, happy and I am healthy- my NEW surgeon (we moved)  states "you have had the definiative treatment for BC"- it is personal and individual.I really just wanted to be done with it ALL. I may get surprised in later years but I was surprised the first time and lived through it and my chances are very much reduced.

agada

Hello

A double mastectomy can be a hard choice to make.  For me I chose the double mastectomy due to a high family history of breast cancer.  I am glad I made that choice.  I feel better knowing that I have very little chance of my cancer coming back. (Fingers crossed for myself there).  Your choice is a personal one.  I also made a list of pro's and con's.  The pro's won out over the con's. I hope you can make a decision and be at peace with it.  Since I had multifoci with my DCIS a lumpectomy was out for me on one breast. You will make the right choice for yourself in the long run.

Agada