Is this too long to wait?

FireDragonll

I was diagnosied with DCIS stage 0 grade 3 on 6/19. Had a second opinion at Johns Hopkins, 7/8. I am sceduled for deip on 10/2. Is this too long to wait? I am getting advise from the DR.

I know waiting that long will be hard. I had decided to do BMX, with immediate reconstucton, or just BMX. My mom died of ovarian cancer.

Are there thing I need to consider, advise, stories. Help.

proudtospin

I was diagnosised with DCIS grade 3, mamo was in June, 3 lumpies over the summer, rads started in Sept and ended just before Christmas.

nothing bad will happen to you, it is very slow growing it is just the stress of everything

good luck

cinnamonsmiles

I found my lump comprised of ADH and DCIS at the end of October 2010. I had my biopsy in November 2011, a lumpectomy in late November 2011. By the time I had my BMX without reconstruction on January 11,2011. 

With DCIS, we have a little more time as opposed to IBC, ILC, or IDC (and other more rare forms of breast cancer).

I imagine it is taking you longer to get an appointment because they have to find a day that both the breast surgeon and plastic surgeon are available on the same day.

It is always best to ask your surgeon, oncologist, or radiologist (I would advise not asking the plastic surgeon).

We can give our stories, our opinions, advice we have learned from doctors' or medical websites, but it is best to ask you own doctor who knows all about your cancer and circumstances.

I wish you the best.

FireDragonll

Thank you! That helps I haven't heard back from the doctors yet. But I feel less panicy.

Rosamond

I agree with cinnamonsmiles to inquire about your own case. In my situation, I was diagnosed from stereo biopsy on 6/12. Had a consult with the first surgeon just days later, who recommended lumpectomy. Went for second opinion, who would like an MRI as that team is not confident that the DCIS may not be more (or even less) widespread. So, I had to wait for my period as this facility will only do it days 7-10 of cycle. That finally came today, so the MRI will be next week. After that, as long as it is only DCIS that continues to suspected, I will either participate in a surgery-delay study with green tea extract or go ahead if it's a lumpectomy. If it's going to be a mastectomy, and it's only DCIS (as determined by mammogram, biopsy, and MRI - I know that surgical pathology is the "final" say!), both surgeons and their teams feel it would be just fine for me to wait until September for surgery, which aligns more easily with my current life situation. 

So, potentially, it may be 3 months between biopsy and surgery. Of course, that could change significantly after my MRI, but I am staying with what I know and not trying to get ahead of myself as there are ALWAYS "what if's" in everything in life...not just breast cancer.

Best to inquire about the specifics of your own unique situation. We are all very much individuals, and although there may be commonalities between us, no two of us are exactly alilke. Good luck to you and I wish you well through your surgery and journey. I am actually looking forward to being able to have my own surgical plan in place soon!

FireDragonll

Just got a call, the breast surgeon desn't want me to wait that long.

Rosamond

Good to know, FireDragonII. I'm so glad your BS is looking out for YOUR best interests.

ballet12

I had a stereotactic biopsy in early June 2012, which found only ADH.  My excisional (surgical biopsy), which found the DCIS, was in late July and I had two re-excisions in October, after second opinion from second facility whom I went to for these re-excisions.  The radiation was not until mid January, and that, apparently, wasn't a problem at my facility (ranked #2 in US News and World report for cancer hospitals--so hopefully they know what they are doing).  As stated by others, if it's "only" DCIS, there is less of an issue in waiting.

deb1973

 Edited: Oops, I just saw that your doc recommends not waiting and that you now have an earlier appointment. That is good news!

BayouBabe

I am not good at links, but on the main part of breastcancer.org there is an article titled "Young Women Should Have Surgery Within 6 Weeks Of Diagnosis", dated May 7, 2013. Maybe you can find it or someone more tech savvy can post a link.

FireDragonll

I got an earlier date with another surgeon for Sept 6. I said I would take that date. I should know for sure on Monday. I feel better with that date, which is 6 weeks and 6 days from know.

BayouBabe

Congrats Firedragon on the earlier date. Are you just as confident with this surgeon?



Just also reread that your mom had ovarian cancer. Have you had genetic counseling?

proudtospin

good luck, now do try to relax tonight as you need to keep your stress down...when was the last pedicure you had?  you need one!

FireDragonll

Haven't met the surgen, the nurse navigator seems to like him more.

I had genetic counseling and a BRCA test done 7/11.

BayouBabe

Glad to hear about the testing. Take care and pamper yourself the next few weeks! Hugs!

mrtw43

Your story is the same as mine. I was diagnosed in June 2013 with DCIS. Since mine was throughout the breast I opted for the double MX. With the DEIP flap reconstruction done immediately. I am now 3 weeks out from my surgery and am doing great. I had my proceedure done in Annapolis with Dr. Tafra (wonderful breast surgeon). And Dr. Bonawitz (fantastic PS). Dr. Bonawitz is out of Hopkins but he also works in annapolis.



I didn't want to wait so I had mine scheduled as early as possible but the Drs all agreed that there was no immediate rush and That i had time. I got 2 other breast and plastic surgeons opinions before selecting Annaoplis. (Georgetown and Mercy Hospitals) I had a friend who went to John Hopkins for her BC and she did not recommend it



Good luck to you

FireDragonll

My surgery is 9/4 BMX with DIEP flap same time. I am not going to JH. You should come over to the DIEP 2013 .