Pregnant with DCIS

mama2sedi

I was diagnosed with DCIS on April 5 2013(11wks preg). I've had a had time dealing with the diagnosis which I guess is normal because no one wants to go through this much more whilst pregnant. Truth is I don't even want anyone to know about my diagnosis because I don't want the extra attention or pity from people. My doctors have been great so far and I have y mastectomy scheduled for may 16th. I think they would check for some nodes during the surgery even though I tested negative for cancer cells in my lymp node biopsy. I'm only 31 year sold and have been married for only 2 years. I had a baby girl last year and currently 15 weeks pregnant. I'm so scared of the surgery , the recovery process and if the DCIS would turn out to be something with an invasion after surgery .

LAstar

I'm curious why you will need MX -- is the DCIS multi-focal?  I wish you the best -- being pregnant with a 1-year old is enough work without this too!  

mama2sedi

The surgeon said there were too many calcifications and the mastectomy was the only option for me

ALCS97

I just want to write and encourage you. I am 33 and was diagnosed just last month with DCIS and I have a three year old and a six month old who I am still nursing. I weaned my daughter from the affected breast and still feed her from the right. I had a lumpectomy and sentinal node dissection last week. The worst part for me was the initial diagnosis - I thought because I got that "bad news" phone call that I could just expect the bad news to continue to pile up, but it hasn't. Pathology came back this week and they got clean margins and there was no invasive cancer and lymph nodes (they ended up with 3) came back normal as well. I am looking at a full seven weeks of radiation after I am recovered from surgery, and then close monitoring for the long haul.

I know I am very fortunate to have gotten such good news, and I want to encourage you to stay positive and try to enjoy each day rather than waiting for the phone to ring with test results. It is a good sign that your lymph node biopsy came back negative. Before you know it, surgery will be done and I truly believe the day will come when you feel like you can breathe again. I know it is really hard to be facing this as a mom of a young one (and pregnant) but my little baby girl comforts me throughout this in a very unexpected way. I just look at her and cuddle her and feel so blessed!

And I totally can relate to not wanting to tell people! I opted to tell family and close friends who can help me with the kids and with prayers and support throughout this, but didn't disclose to extended family, etc. until after surgery was done, and still don't mention it a lot because I appreciate parts of my life still feeling normal. 

I hope it encourages you to know you are not alone!

Moderators

ALCS97, thank you so much for sharing your personal experiences - hearing from others who have "been there" is so reassuring.

mama2sed, please post again and let everyone know how you're doing.

• The Mods

mama2sedi

ALCS97! Thank you so much for posting . You have no idea what your post just did to me. It is extremely reassuring to read about someone going through exactly what you are facing. It helps give you an insight into the future.

I'm trying to be positive nowadays and having found strength in praying and a lot of women online. Until I had this experience I never knew there were that many young women affected with breast cancer. I always thought of it as something for the old. I was wrong but I'm glad things happened this way. It has given me a different percepective of life and how to be grateful for every little thing.

My daughter and this tiny baby( now 16 weeks) gives me the strength to go through each day . I'd try to concentrate on the sunshine and my daughter's latest antics . She is starting to walk .

I still have my dark days , especially now that the surgery is drawing near. It has been scheduled for the 9th of May now. I look at my breast everyday and always think, " very soon, I'd be with only one boob" but then I remind myself that I have a lotto be thankful for too. I hope and pray the surgery and recovery are easy on me and I get good results. One can only hope.

ALCS97

mama2sedi, you will be in my prayers as you go in for surgery this week. I am so glad to hear that you are focusing on all the blessings in your life, especially your little ones. When I was feeling nervous before surgery, I got some exercise and fresh air since I knew I'd be out of my routine for a bit after surgery, and I also read a book - it was a nice distraction at times, in waiting rooms, etc. And I took my 3 year old on a mommy date and forgot about the cleaning and dishes They can wait.

I hope that you find the things in your day that make you smile and relieve some of the pre-surgery stress. I am encouraged by your positivity as well because I know what those dark moments can feel like and it's nice for me to know I'm not the only person this age dealing with this. Please keep me posted; you can send me a private message if you ever feel like it. Stay strong!

LAstar

I found that my daughter was the only one who could take my mind off of everything, and she was the best reminder of why I wanted to be aggressive in treatment.  I can only imagine the extra challenges of being pregnant during all of this.  My heart goes out to you while you are in the waiting period -- it is such a difficult time.  Recovery is easier in some ways because there is such relief that it is over.  You will come through this, and you will be amazed how resilient the human body and spirit are.  Best wishes to you, mama2sedi!