Introduction

Dlpaquette

Hi,

I am new to this group. I had an ultrasound guided core biopsy and a stereotactic biopsy on Friday December 8th, got my results on the 12th, MRI on the 13th and tomorrow I have my first appointment with the surgeon and oncologist. I have IDC and DCIS, I will get my MRI results tomorrow and hopefully have an idea of the plan. This has all happened so fast that my head is spinning. Any advice on questions I should be asking the surgeon or oncologist?

I have to say the hardest part was telling my daughter, she is 27 and started sobbing on the other end of the phone. She lives out of state so I was unable to tell her in person. I have only heard her cry like that twice, her very first broken heart and at her brother's funeral. I know after losing my son I worry about losing her so much more, the fear overwhelms me, now I realize it goes both ways, her losing her brother has made her worry more about my husband and I.

Dawn

Leatherette

Hi Dawn,

Sorry you are going through this. I’d ask about tumor size, grade and hormone/ HER status. If they are telling you what the treatment plan is, they will likely bring them up without you asking, though. I’d have someone hear your plan with you and take some notes-someone who is detail-oriented, if possible. Don’t know if you are learning the plan on the phone or in person. All I know is that I was very distracted and thinking way into the future as my plan was explained.

I’m sorry your daughter took it so hard, and that you lost your son. It sounds like you have a very close family, and I’m sure she will rally once she’s had time to process it.

Dlpaquette

Thank you for the response, I had my oncology and surgery visits and will meet with plastic surgery on Friday. My tumor is only 1.2 cm but I will still need a mastectomy because the DCIS is so extensive. I will also need hormone therapy. I've been told as long as the lymph nodes look good and the pathology results from the tumor are good I will not have to have chemo or radiation. At this point I have to figure out which type of surgery I want to do if I want to have a double mastectomy with implants or if I would like to use the tissue for my stomach to replace my breast. I definitely want reconstruction fortunately I have a great team of female doctors

EastcoastTS

Dawn:

I'm glad you have more information and are moving forward with a plan. There are great forums on here for reconstruction. You can ask ladies lots of questions about their experience.

I had tissue expanders (TEs) and implants. TEs not fun but doable. There is also sometimes the opportunity, depending upon your circumstances, of direct implant. I had Exchange to implant in Sept and happy with results. My only complication was a post-op infection after BMX which cleared with antibiotics.

Good luck and hang in there!

Moderators

Hi Dawn - Although we're sorry for the reason you have to be here, we wanted to welcome you to Breastcancer.org, and let you know that we're so glad you've found our Community.

There are different reconstruction techniques that you and your medical team will discuss. In the meant time, and besides the wonderful advise you'll get from other members here in the Discussion Boards (see also the Breast Reconstruction forum), you can learn more on Types of Breast Reconstruction in our main site (just click on the link to go to that section).

We hope this helps! Let us know how you're doing.

Kind wishes,

The Mods

beach2beach

Hi Dawn,

Hopefully nodes will be clear and you wont need further treatment outside of hormonal therapy. I had ILC with lcis and dcis. I choose a double(did not want the anxiety of worrying about 6mthto 6mth surveilance on the remaining breast, plus I would have probably looked lopsided. I went straight to implants, no expanders. I was not a candidate for a DIEP, not enough fat, and my skin is too tight..who knew such a thing so not a candidate for expanders. I was able to do direct implants, I'm not any bigger than I was before, which was small, but I'm ok with it. I'm doing Tamoxifen, 4mth so far, and not too bad.

Kids take it hard no matter how old they are. Mine are 22, 20 and 16. My only daughter, the 20yr old, it really hit her hard. Her best friend had just lost her grandmother to breast cancer, my younger sons friend's mother had died the same week of ovarian cancer and I had to tell them I had breast cancer. That sucked. Try to reassure her you will be around a long time, and believe that yourself.

Edited because I stupidly submitted it before I was done!

Dlpaquette

Thanks for responding. I was wondering if anyone would be willing to share their recovery after a double mastectomy with reconstruction? How long were you out of work? Any helpful tips?

KBeee

I work as a firefighter/paramedic. I was at the desk within 2 weeks, and back on the fire engine in 6 weeks. I do heal fast though and had no complications.

You will want to ask about oncotype testing (or similar)to be sure you do not need chemo. Most likely you will not, but occasionally small tumors are aggressive little buggers. You should meet with a medical oncologist after surgery. He/she can order it.

Dlpaquette

The will be doing the Oncotype testing, hopefully it comes back with good news. I am hoping I heal quickly this time, I had a tendon repair on my ankle this summer and it took the incision 18 weeks to heal, but I think that was more due to a horrible surgeon who was too stupid to culture it. I do work at a desk but lots of reaching, will that be a problem?