JUST DIAGNOSED

August282014

I was given my biopsy report from the imaging center yesterday. I have DCIS mass measuring 4.3X2.8cm my doctors office is closed on Fridays and Saturday  so I have no idea what comes next the imaging center recommend a MRI. I don't know what to expect I can't even sleep! I know that every case is different but can somebody just talk me through what the next steps are going to be? Ok so now I've gone to see my doctor who scheduled me for a MRI and a cat scan, but then I get a call from the sergeants office for an appointment with him that I went to yesterday he examines me and tells me its no need to wait to do either one of those tests and sets my surgery for this coming Tuesday where he is going to do a mastectomy and take my lymph nodes they are swollen my arm pit is on fire only way I can describe the pain I'm feeling there. I asked him to just remove both breast and he's refusing to I don't understand I do not want to have any kind of reconstructive surgery. Should Insist he does both find another doctor get a second opinion? I want them both removed because I do not want to be back in his office 2 3 years from now because I find a lump on the other side

Moderators

Hi August, 

We're so very sorry to hear of your diagnosis but happy that you found us. The members are kind and compassionate and will understand what you are going through. 

Some information from the main site here might help you to sort through the conventional next steps in treatment for DCIS, although of course your case is unique and therefore your treatment plan will be unique to your individual situation.

Please keep up updated on your next steps. 

Sending you our kind and best wishes

From the mod team 

NoRecon

I'm so sorry.  I know I felt like I was hit by a truck when I was first diagnosed.  I had a bilateral lateral mastectomy ten months ago.  My tumor was originally thought to be larger than yours.  I think they don't really know until it's removed.  Mine was a cluster of many small tumors but they didn't know that until they removed my breasts.  Please know that breast cancer is very survivable.  Lumpectomy was not an option for me.  I decide to have my good breast removed too.  I didn't want to live in fear.  I passed on reconstruction.  I'm real happy today with the decisions I made and have no regrets.  I'm pain free and I have my life back.

TB90

Hi August:  First of all, you are going to be ok.  As awful and shocking as this news is, DCIS is a stage 0 cancer and is very treatable.  There is much yet that you have to learn, but just take a deep breath and know that you will be ok.  Your drs will discuss options regarding surgery with you based on your particular situation.  Lumpectomy vs mastectomy.  Lots to consider based on location of the DCIS (I personally had no option but to have a mx as my breast was so small that a lumpectomy would have basically been the same thing as a mastectomy).  So your situation is unique and your personal factors have to be taken into account.  Along with your preferences, etc.  But so far, your dx (diagnosis) is as good as it gets when it comes to breast cancer.  Small consolation I know, but you are not dying.  One day at a time and stay with the women here who have very similar situations and you will get terrific information and support.  But do remember that your situation is unique to you. ((((((hugs))))))

Staple

Hi August.  You should be referred to a breast surgeon who will help you sort out all of the options for your treatment.  My surgeon did send me for an MRI since sometimes mammograms don't see everything.  In my case there was more DCIS than initially thought and I needed a mastectomy instead of a lumpectomy.  My surgeon answered all my questions and referred me to a plastic surgeon also.    I was anxious just like you are and I spoke with my surgeon about this and he was able to prescribe me some anti anxiety and sleep aid medications. 

August282014

did any of you have pain before surgery?

August282014

thank you so much. Thank you all so much I'm so glad I found you all

Janet456

You will be OK, it is the best end of the worst news is how it was put to me. xxx

NoRecon

I had no pain prior to surgery.  I felt a hardness on the side of my breast.  By all means get the anti anxiety drugs.  They made walking into the hospital easier.  It's hard to make an informed decision when recently diagnosed about recon.  It took time for me for diagnosis to sink in and for me to just breathe.  Crossing my fingers for you.

proudtospin

ok, so I remember the time around diagnosis as a dittsi time of choices and lots of info none of which I understood

I flunked my routine yearly mamo, was told by the mamo center that I needed a biopsy.  I called my PCD who had ordered the mamo, she said I want you to have a breast surgeon before the biopsy.  I was lucky as she referred me to one of the best breast surgeons in the state.  Got the apt very fast, then on to biopsy and then lumpectomy.  Yeap, my DCIS was removed by a lumpie.  My boobs may be a bit uneven but fine with me.  I have recently celebrated my 6 yrs since the adventure began

It is scarey but I wanted you to have a story were it was not a mastectomy and a positive result.  Best of luck, stay busy, take a hike....

ChrisInPA

Hi August and welcome to the group.  Sorry you have had to join us, but you will find a tremendous amount of support here!  DCIS is scary, but it is VERY beatable.

I was diagnosed after an ultrasound - they sent me for a biopsy and thats how it was caught.  As the ultrasound was only on my left breast, my Breast Surgeon (BS) ordered an MRI on both.  It wasn't painful at all, but they did use contrast which can make people sick.  Be sure and ask about that.  My right side had atypical cells, but they turned out to be benign.  The MRI was a relief as it really let my doctors see what was going on.

I never even felt the cancer, but the cysts that triggered the original ultrasound were somewhat painful.  I was glad to have those gone!

Please ask lots of questions of your medical team.  They deal with this every day, but you do not - they don't know what you don't know, know what I mean?  I was given the option of a lumpectomy and "wait and see", but opted for a bilateral mastectomy because I didn't want the stress of being checked every 6 months for the next 5 years.  DCIS can be fortunate like that - you may have options that more aggressive cancers don't allow for.  

coralrose413

Hi Ladies, I'm a newbie, dx on 7/15/14.  I'm scheduled this Thursday for core biopsy of (3) microcals near chest wall.  My question is, can DCIS be that far back near chest wall?  I'm hoping they're B9, but concerned this maybe IDC.  BS informed me if they are not B9, I'm off to mastectomy w/SNB on 9/19/14.  Also, I've been having a dull ache/pain that comes and goes in my upper left back....any thoughts or input would be very much appreciated.

ballet12

Hi Coralrose, DCIS can occur anywhere that there are milk ducts in the breast (so pretty much anywhere), including near the chest wall. Were these microcalcs found via MRI or via follow-up mammo?  MRI can show lots of false positives (but also true positives).

Best of luck to you on Thursday.

August282014

thank you nellieduck I have my appointment tomorrow to find out options and plans for my treatment. My doctors nurse informed me today that the plan is most likely a lumpsectomy followed by chemo then 5 years of pills lmbo I told her no way that's going to work for me I'm not taking any chemo under any cercumstanaces she thinks I'm crazy I would prefer to have a  mesectomy  on both breast you said that's what you had did you have to have any chemo? I lost my mother to liver and pancreatic cancer in 2010 both my grandparents to lung cancer one of my first cousins just passed away in 2012 of some type of cancer his 30 year old daughter is fighting soft tissue sarcoma cancer right now not to mention the 3 cousins that had breast cancer 2 are gone now so I've seen what chemo does and no way I do not want any

proudtospin

perhaps you should get a second opinion?

I had DCIS and understood that chemo was not a treatment plan for it but I did do rads and 5 yrs of aromasin

Annette47

Are you sure she said chemo and not radiation?   Chemo is not given for pure DCIS, but radiation is standard after a lumpectomy.  Perhaps you misunderstood.

SummerSun

Hi all. I was diagnosed on August 20th with DCIS in my right breast, 6-7cm. I found it myself - 10 months since my last mammogram. I have a family history of breast cancer and have decided to have a double mastectomy. Lumpectomy was not an option due to the size. I don't mind telling you all, I am terrified, but, am grateful I found it early.

I am so glad I found this forum. There are so many amazing and strong women going through this. I hope and pray that we all get through this and are able to provide support and comfort for those that will follow us.

I see some of you made the same decision to have the BMX. I plan to have reconstructive surgery and am thinking about using my own tissue, either DIEP or TRAM. I would greatly appreciate any advice from anyone that has reconstruction.

I just met with the surgeon today and will be scheduling an appt. with the PS tomorrow. 

Ariom

Hi August, I am so sorry you have to be here, and I am so sorry you have had so many tragic family losses to cancer. 

As the others have said, chemo isn't indicated for DCIS, but Rads and Tamox etc.can be.

Try not to stress too much, wait till you have an understanding of exactly what your options are. You can take your time to work out what suits you.

Opting for a BMX wouldn't change the need for Chemo, if you had invasive cancer that required chemo.

Sometimes you may still need Rads after a Mx, if there is DCIS or a tumor near  the chest wall. 

I was Dx with pure DCIS and decided to have a Umx and SNB, fortunately, I didn't need to have rads. Had I opted for the Lumpectomy, I would not have needed the SNB, but would have had to have 6 weeks of radiation, but chemo was never required with Pure DCIS.

Take someone with you, to  the next appointment if you possibly can, so you have 2 sets of ears to hear what your Doctor has to offer you. It is easy to miss a lot when you're hearing a lot of information. Write down any questions you want answered, so you won't forget to ask them.

All the very best!

proudtospin

August, taking someone with you is a good idea but if you do not have someone, do get a small recorder so when you get home, you can replay the conversation.  Good luck

August282014

I had the surgery the doctor did a lumpectomy left my lymph nodes that he told me he was going to remove either way smh so he thinks there me be a blood clot in my breast find out tomorrow  they sent me to get a ct scan then he's going to do a biopsy of the lumps under my arm pit why why didn't he just remove them during the lumpectomy and biopsy his heart out I commend each and every one of u that have gone through this already no treatment plan as of yet which is ticking me off I feel like there moving so slow right now I want to get on with my life which just fell completely apart in the last 6 weeks looking for support groups don't have a treatment plan as of yet feeling so lost

CaliRN

SummerSun,

Please let me know how it goes with the surgery. I too found a palpable lump that did not show up on my mammogram 5 months previously. I had a biopsy and the results said DCIS intermediate grade. It seems much less common for DCIS to be found as a palpable lump. I feel like I am losing my mind I am so scared. I have an appointment with a surgeon tomorrow and have scheduled an MRI in a couple of weeks. The radiologist that gave me the results really downplayed DCIS saying that the lump would have to be removed but no chemo and no radiation. From what I have researched it looks like a lumpectomy with radiation or a mastectomy are my options. I am glad others know what I am going through because this anxiety is almost unbearable.

Moderators

Welcome to BCO Teidam, we're sorry you had to find us, but glad you did.

Waiting for results is a very stressful time and you'll get sympathy from others on this forum as they've been through the waiting too. It is not an easy time at all. Please try not to be scared, but take one day at a time.

If it is DCIS, it is not invasive and should be able to be removed
without problems. Read about people's experiences with DCIS here DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ).

The Moderators