breast became much smaller

Adele2

early stage dcis surgery and 5 weeks radiotherapy, affected breast now considerably smaller than healthy breast. Is this normal

Runrcrb

i don’t know if it’s normal. My radiated breast was a tissue expander reconstruction and it was significantly smaller post radiation. Very glad I waited until after radiation for my permanent reconstruction.

Kelligirl5

I was warned that it would shrink during radiation. After the lumpectomy they are still fairly even but it was actually slightly larger so that helped keep the balance. I'm just starting radiation so I can't say what it will be once I'm through but she said possibly up to a half size difference. I'm larger and working to lose weight which I know will also affect the size on both sides so I'm not sure how all of this together will factor in.

nonomimi5

Yes, it is normal. It is swollen with fluids after surgery, but it goes down. It should be perkier. My BC breast looks better than my healthy one which is more droopy.

jacks24

These posts are so helpful! I have DCIS and am getting a lumpectomy and a reduction in one breast before radiation. My surgeon suggested getting the second reduction after radiation in order to ensure both breasts match as well as possible. Although I will be uneven for a few months, I'm leaning towards this surgery. Thoughts?

Thanks,

Jackie

Dhakokar

I would wait. How big was you DCIS

LorBe

I was recently diagnosed with DCIS in my left breast Stage 0. I am one week post lumpectomy, I am 55 years old. My next step is to meet with the Radiation Specialist for a consult in two weeks.

I had my follow up with my surgeon yesterday and found out that radiation treatment can only happen to an area one time - so if the DCIS comes back to this breast later I would require a mastectomy. So now I am questioning whether I should do radiation now or monitor every six months through diagnostic mammography and if it comes back - do radiation then.

Also, my surgeon recommends five years of Tamoxifen. I have read alot of troubling side effects from this (pulmonary embolisms, endometrial cancer) and wonder if the risk is worth it when this cancer was non-invasive.

Can anyone who has been down this road help me on the emotional roller coaster? I would greatly appreciate hearing from people who have been through this