On an emotional roller coaster after reexcision

Jtjjc5

Hi All,

I had the reexcision last Thursday and it wasn't so bad, I'm pretty sore, but it hadn't been 3 weeks since the original lumpectomy. I won't find out the results until Thursday of next week and I'm really nervous about it. I keep going back and forth on what to do next without even knowing what the results are-I do not want another reexcision, I am thinking if she tells me again the margins aren't clear enough, I'll have the mastectomy and that scares me-I feel helpless and stuck. My DCIS is high grade, so I will be needing radiation and tamoxifen-I am 55, so I may be able to take an aromatose (sp) inhibitor. If I need the mx, will I still need those treatments? I'm a teacher and have been on break, I'm not sure how I'm going to function at work...my emotions are in overdrive, I go from scared to strong in a minutes time

SDWoman

jtjjc5 From what I understand if it is still only DCIS and lymphnodes are clear, you are done after the mastectomy. This is the main reason I chose BMX.

If they find invasive cancer or lymphnode involvement the plan changes.

Best of luck to you!

Jtjjc5

Thanks, for the response-the first lumpectomy pathology report came back pure DCIS, I noticed you were diagnosed around the same time as me, and you’re finished!! I’m sitting here with an ice pack on a very sore reexcision worrying about clear margins, again. Good for you!!

SDWoman

jtjjc5 On this website I have read so many stories of women needing multiple lumpectomies for DCIS. Ir must be very tricky to get it all.

If you do end up having to go back again. the mastectomy has not been bad at all as far as recovery. I expected it to be far worse.

Salamandra

Someone posted a link somewhere in here recently showing that even when it took multiple excisions (2 or 3 or more, iirc) to get clear margins, the ultimate long term results were just as good as if they had been achieved with the very first surgery. My take away for you would be that if thinking about a mastectomy feels paralyzing or bad, don't. It's ok to plan on repeated excisions until they get it right. If you change your mind later, you can always go more drastic.

Treatment recommendations for DCIS seem to be all over the place. I think the most important thing is to find a doctor you have confidence in, and a second opinion if you want, and keep asking questions until you have what you need to make an informed decision.

I'm a teacher too, not that many years in the profession, and was not able to work long part diagnosis. Teaching can take so much discipline and mental and emotional energy, and I just didn't have it to give, even before the full treatment side effects kicked in. Once I was off work though,I found radiation totally doable, and so far tamoxifen has been fine too.

I think there is a big mental/emotional component to dealing with this diagnosis. Try to give yourself a break if you can, and trust yourself. Hugs.

SDWoman

jtjjc5 Salamandra is right. Whatever treatment you choose is a very personal choice and only you can make it.

For me, with my family history it always came back and out of the 8 of us there are 2 who haven't died from their cancer, myself and a cousin who also chose mastectomy. I also knew that my sister ultimately had a mastectomy after 2 lumpectomies that would require yet a 3rd. That made the decision very easy to make for me. I just couldn't do the mental anguish of facing mammograms year after year. I wanted the best possible odds I could get. If I didn't have that background, I'm certain I would have done a lumpectomy as well.

I am very hopeful that your next pathology report will show clean margins and you won't even have to make that choice.