Dcis

PammyT68

Hi Ladies , I have just joined the site, I wondered if anyone has had DCIS twice in the same breast

I wondered what treatment would be recommend

All replies greatly appreciated

Palm

Annette47

It would most likely depend on how large the lesion, and what treatment was done the first time. For example if the first one was small, treated via lumpectomy and there was no radiation, another small lesion could theoretically be treated with another lumpectomy. Because you cannot irradiate the same area twice though, most of the time a second occurrence in the same breast is treated with a mastectomy, as the vast majority of lumpectomies are followed by radiation.

If the recurrence was after a mastectomy, then I guess they would try to remove the new tumor and maybe do radiation if it hadn’t already been done? I do know someone who had a second cancer after a BMX and while it originated in the residual breast tissue it grew into her flap reconstruction so that was removed and replaced with an implant. Her new cancer was a new primary (ILC) not more DCIS though (LCIS had also been found the first time around).

PammyT68

Hi Annette, thank you so much for your reply, I had DCIS four years ago, four lumpectomies to try and get clear margins but the last one they were right to the edge of my skin and no tissue left to take but margin still had some cancer cells , it was also high grade, five weeks radiotherapy, all fine until no

PammyT68

Had mammogram three weeks ago , results yesterday , new area of calcifications in same breast, biopsy to be done on Monday , I am really worried now as I think my only option would be a mastectomy ,

Thank you

Pam

PoppyJQ

I'm going through this now. I was diagnosed with DCIS recently and since I had prior cancer in that breast and radiation I was told the standard treatment is a mastectomy. I was a bit shocked, well both that it had come back and about the mastectomy. I swear I dont ever remember being told about that when making my lumpectomy/mastectomy choice, I'm sure they did but I was in a cancer fog. After the shock wore off I'm ready to get this done and not have the worry and procedure after procedure after procedure. Hopefully yours will just be calcifications, best of luck to you Pam

PammyT68

Hi Jean, so sorry to hear your news , it's just awful going through all this and it taking over your life , I hope your doing ok , when are you likely to have your operation?

I was wondering if they would do a double mastectomy if I asked, my mum had breast cancer at age 35 and I don't want to be worrying it might come back in my left side.

Keep in touch Jean and let me know how you are, and thank you

Pam

VegGal

I had a double for a 6 mm mass of DCIS. My surgeon fully supported it.

PammyT68

Hi Carla, how are you getting in after your surgery?

I have thought about the expanders and implants if I have to go down this road

How is the reconstruction?

Pam 😊

VegGal

Hi Pam!

The whole process for me went very well. Two surgeries and done! No complications. Kept my nippies, never had a fill as my expanders were fully filled at the time they were placed.

I am happy with my look. Are they perfect? No. Were my old breasts? No! Do the implants look better than the old breasts? Yes, in a lot of ways they do.

Let me know if you have any questions or concerns. Good luck with your decisions.

Carla

wendymk2016

Hi Carla,

Just wondering why you choose to take Mastectomy option while your DCIS is Grade 2. and your tumor is less than 1cm.

Thanks,

Wendy

VegGal

Hi Wendy,

It may seem that I took extreme measures, but here is the reasoning I used for me. Your mileage may vary.

To begin with, cancer isn't my first rodeo with a serious illness. I also have myasthenia gravis, which affects my muscles, including the muscles that control my breathing. I also take steroids.

Most importantly, I wanted this gone! My BS showed me evidence of the DCIS from a mammo back as far as 5 years previously. No one had ever caught it. What if there were other spots just sitting there, being missed?

I abhorred mammograms. I never failed to be called back because of dense tissue, cysts, etc. Just being able to avoid that forever was reason to do a BMX. I say that only halfway in jest, because the previously mentioned MG keeps me quite busy with annoying treatments on its own.

A lumpectomy with rads just didn't feel right. Rads, for someone like me, on steroids and with breathing issues anyway, seemed like it had great potential to negatively affect me. I need a strong heart and strong bones and rads could affect both. I imagined myself 20 years later with pneumonia and a weakened lung and heart. Nope, too risky.

I live 100 miles from my cancer care center. No way was I going to drive 200 miles a day for rads that might do damage.

I watched my mom go through tubular carcinoma 7 years previously, at age 77. She chose a UMX and did just great. I knew I would be OK with a BMX. In fact, I had long ago decided that would be my path should I ever get cancer. There wasn't much debating when it actually happened.

Finally, I have a daughter with ADHD and Asperger's. She is in college and progressing, but will take longer to launch than typical kids and will never have a typical life. I HAD to do what I felt gave me the best chance of being here with the healthiest longevity possible. For me, the BMX was the only thing that made sense. So far, no regrets.

Hope that helps.

wendymk2016

Carla:

Thank you very much, it totally make sense.

Even though BMX seems to be pretty aggressive type of therapy, but it does lower the risk of re-occurring.

Wish you good luck!

Wendy

VegGal

Thank you, Wendy. I appreciate it. Best wishes to you as well.

Bluebirdgirl

I think it is really insulting in my opinion to question someone's treatment decision. I opted for a BMX and I don't owe anyone an explanation as to why I chose to do so. It was my choice, period, end of discussion. CarlaEM,you answered that very politely, not sure I could have done the same.