DCIS - how soon was your surgery

howhm02l

I was diagnosed with DCIS (area on mammo done at biopsy was about 8 cm x 2 cm x 3 cm) on June 28. I am BRCA2 + so will be having BMX. Tentative date is 8/16. It seems like such a big area that I am slightly concerned about the delayed date. I had a mammo 9/14/11 that was clean so these micro calcifications over a large area have appeared in a pretty short period of time. The biopsy was ordered based on area of enhancement that appeared on routine MRI on June15.



I just wondered if anyone else had a 6+ week delay between diagnosis of DCIS and surgery. I think the date was determined by PS scheduler so I have put in a call to BS just to confirm she is okay with 8/16. Thanks for any input!

J9W

good morning,  my wait was just about 6+ weeks. and what a grueling six weeks that was - talk about anxious.  My BS and PS worked closely together to schedule the date.

Shayne

I also had 6 week wait - due to BS schedule.  It did give me time to meet with an RO and figure out Plan A and Plan B for when path report came back.  Will say, wasnt really nervous for surgery, was ready to get on with it - but that couldve been the xanax talking, lol.

JamieB86

I was diagnosed on Nov 30 and had my UMX on Feb 9.  Try to keep busy. It will be here before you know it.

Best wishes.

LAstar

I had 4 to 6 weeks between all of my procedures.  Over 3 months elapsed between my diagnosis and the BMX, but the main areas had been removed in the intermediate surgeries.  My BS was anxious to have my BMX scheduled ASAP since the process was dragging on, and I appreciated his sense of urgency.  It couldn't hurt to hassle your surgeons a bit about getting you in earlier, but I wouldn't let a couple of extra weeks worry you excessively.  I think this is a normal scheduling window based on my team. My BS could get me in quickly, but the PS was the one that required later scheduling (4 to 6 weeks out).  

CTMOM1234

I also ~8 weeks between diagnosis and surgery. Those weeks were so difficult to get through mentally, and initially my bs wasn't available that early and it was going to be 10 weeks. I literally begged them to call me if anything opened up and called twice to check up after the first week, because I was just so nervous and knew that 9-10 weeks was just too stressful for me. I appreciate that dcis isn't as urgent as idc, and mine was grade 2 not grade 3, but as it turned out, by the time of my final lumpectomy pathology report, there was a small amount of grade 2 idc there too.  I didn't know anything about stereo biopsy tracks and had a huge hematoma from that biopsy, so although maybe not logical, I didn't feel comfortable that the dcis was contained and harmless.

CTMOM1234

I also had 6 weeks between diagnosis and surgery. Those weeks were so difficult to get through mentally, and initially my bs wasn't available that early and it was going to be 9 or 10 weeks. I literally begged them to call me if anything opened up and called twice to check up after the first week, because I was just so nervous and knew that 9-10 weeks was just too stressful for me. I appreciate that dcis isn't as urgent as idc, and mine was grade 2 not grade 3, but as it turned out, by the time of my final lumpectomy pathology report, there was a small amount of grade 2 idc there too.  I didn't know anything about stereo biopsy tracks and had a huge hematoma from that biopsy, so although maybe not logically, I didn't feel comfortable that the dcis was contained and harmless.

howhm02l

Thank you all so much. My BS called today to say the 8/16 date was good. This will be good because we can go on vacation, and my children will be in starting school on 8/20 so I will be able to focus on recovery.



I am terrified about the pathology report. I REALLY do not want chemo. My mom went through chemo when I was 10, and I have such vivid memories of how sock she was. I know that was 30 years ago and things are much different now, but I really want to spare my children from that.

JamieB86

If you have pure DCIS you will not need chemo.

Enjoy your vacation. 

CTMOM1234

I agree with JamieB86. And, even if a trace amount of idc is detected in the final pathology report, you likely will NOT need chemo.

It was generally thought that I had pure grade 2 dcis based on my mammos, ultrasounds, mri, biopsies, and prelim pathology apparently done during the surgery -- so, yes, I was shocked to hear that 1.75 mm of grade 2 idc was found when the lumpectomy was entirely studied. It happens sometimes, but odds are it will not happen to you (most I've seen is 20%, so 80% of the time, it's pure dcis). Because of the idc, I then had to undergo a second surgery to check my sentinel node(s), unlucky me, but thankfully all was fine, and I moved on as originally planned to rads (just a few weeks later than planned because of the snb). With a bmx you'll likely have the nodes checked during the surgery, so you won't need to worry about the possibility of a 2nd snb surgery.

So the odds are it'll be pure dci, hence no chemos; and even if not, the odds are the idc will be a very small amount and again no chemo. The onc. I met with mentioned that she generally prescribed chemo if the idc is 1 cm or more, and she wasn't surprised that <2 mm of idc was found in my path reprt but also wasnt close to recommending chemo. She left tamoxifen up to me, gave me the stats for my personal medical situation, as well as the pros and cons, and I opted to not take it ... and even 2 years later, I'm pleased with that decision. 

Shayne

pray for clean margins.......  Youll be fine mama.......

Laurie08

add me to the list of people who waited.  I was diagnosed 4/22 and had my BMX 6/30.  It is a weird limbo time for the 8 weeks or so.  But it gives you time to gain confidence and reassure yourself and shop etc.  I felt very prepared by the time my surgery date arrived.  I was "ready".

Good luck to you!  I would also suggest starting or finding a August 2012 MX group.  We had one for the month I had my surgery and it was SOOOOOO helpful to have a group of people going through it at the exact same time as you.

howhm02l

Thank you all so much!  I know these next few weeks will fly by, and I'm glad we will be able to go on our vacation! 

 CTMOM1234 - thanks for sharing that information about the size of tumor at which your doctor would do chemo. 

 Laurie08 - your children are adorable!

Anonymous

Wow, I am sorry for all of you ladies that had to wait so long between dx and surgery...I don't think I could do it! I was dx on 7-30-12 and am having my BMX with reconstruction on 8-8-12. 

Shayne

I got the best breast surgeon in my state.  It was worth the wait!!

cinnamonsmiles

I found my lump 10/20/2010. I saw my first family doctor (mine was on vacation so had to use a back up) for the lump the next week. My lumpectomy was the day after Thanksgiving in November 2010. I had my BMX with node dissection 1/11/11.

proudtospin

I am with Shayne, if you need to wait a couple of days or even weeks, get the best in the area.  I know I tried to rush it but it just took from May till the start of Sept to get through the surgeries and heal for the rads.  Between her vacation and I confess, my vacation...it took time as I did have multiple lumpies

but it was the best surgeon in town so feel comfortable with the end result