New here. Just diagnosed DCIS AND IDC

Lynn77

Thank you all for sharing your stories and for all the valuable information.

After going back and forth for a month, I have opted for a mastectomy. As soon as I made the decision I felt better. It's the "no knowing how to proceed" that was driving me nuts. My decision was based on a plethora of reasons. I made a "pros and cons" chart for mastectomy vs. lumpectomy & radiation. And for me, it became clear that this would be the best choice for me. Yes, it is a personal decision. -- Not only based on recurrence statistics, feelings about radiation, input from doctors, etc. BUT also "what would make you feel better on a daily basis moving forward".

Shelley73

I have just been diagnosed with IDC 5 days ago. The surgeon says that a lumpectomy would not work for the size of the tumor, I would need to have a mastectomy. He said there would not be enough of my breast left. According to the pathology and ultra sound report it is 2 cm. My question is is it common to have a mastectomy for that size tumor? I have read in many places that mastectomy is widely over used. I am having a hard time understanding all of this. I am meeting with an oncologist tomorrow but the surgeon warned me how oncologists will try to shrink tumors first before surgery and he has seen people die due to waiting on surgery. Anyone have any insight on this

eliza_246

Well done @Lyn77

It really is a horrible time having to make these decisions, I certainly think you made the right one.

I had same deliberation and opted for mastectomy which I had 3 weeks ago, and yesterday got the results... They found even more DCIS, so for meet it was definitely the right one.

Hope yours goes well.

All the best

Eliza

JanetMara

Hi new2BC

Good for you,your doctor cooperated with your wish,I asked my surgeon to remove both breasts but she did not and here I am with 1 boob hanging,scared of having another tumor on the right breast. Wish you more success ahead .

Lynn77

Hi eliza_246

Thank you so much. And I'm so glad you decided to have that done since they found more. Hope your recovery is going well. And that you'll be done with this whole thing and not have to think about it anymore. I'm having mine in a little less than 2 weeks. Nervous, but hopefully all will go well.

Lynn77

Hi everyone. Would like to share what's happened since I first started this thread. -- Lumpectomy with radiation or a double mastectomy....I kept changing my mind. Some of my docs thought the lumpectomy and radiation would be sufficient. I had the lumpectomy done, and the plan was to then start radiation. But I started realizing that for me personally a double mastectomy was the way to go, because I didn't want to always worry if they might have missed something or not. I just had it done on Monday. (lot of pain the first two days, but then it subsides. I knew it was going to be a major surgery, but I was more than willing to go through it.

My path report just came back and they found DCIS IN THE GOOD BREAST. But they got it all out, from both breasts, margins are all clean. And next week I get the fluid tubes taken out, and start the pre-reconstruction process as they begin to insert saline into my tissue expanders.

Oh, and there was just one last thing that happened after my surgery that I want to share in the hopes that it will help someone. The plan was that after the surgery and before I woke up in recovery that they would give me a nerve block. Well I didn't because one of the doctors was trying to keep on schedule and decided to wait till I was in recovery to give me the nerve block so when I woke up, as expected, the pain was very intense. So if you have the option of getting a nerve block, stress to your team that you want the block before you wake up. Meanwhile it's been only four days since my surgery and all I feel is little tenderness and pressure, and the tylenol takes care of that.

I hope you're all doing well. What a fantastic group you all are.

msphil

hello idc for me was planning our wedding when found lump thought bout lumpectomy since going into 2nd marriage but decided on Lmast with reconstruction but body rejected it with high fever after first filling in expander taken out. So I wear prothesis in bra I'm now a 25 yr Survivor Praise God this yr. msphil idc stage2 0\3 nodes 3mo chemo before and after Lmast got married then 7wks rads 5yrs on Tamoxifen.

Hope2019

Wow. Sorry to hear that. I'm a Christian and my faith is now the size of a mustard seed. I have been looking all over for resources and have not reached out to my Church. I am scheduled for lumpectomy surgery for Dcis next Wednesday, and I really need to focus on God and my faith. I listen to Joel Osteen videos everyday, but need to receive prayer from my Church pastors.

Thanks for your post to remind me to focus on Gods Grace!!

Bookworm14

Lynn77,

Sorry you are joining the club 😟. I also went back and forth on lumpectomy or mastectomy, but what helped me make a decision was the genetic testing. As soon as it came back as BRCA2+ my decision of a mastectomy was clear. Hopefully, they are doing a test for you so you can make an informed decision. I also wanted to reduce my risk as much as possible due to my age. I felt that if I did the mastectomy, chemo, and rads that I had done everything in my power to kill and remove all of the cancer, and that if it did come back later then I could be happy that I did all I could while not “what ifing” myself. The mastectomy recovery was not that bad as bad as expected. I had the surgery at 11 am, in the room at 8:00 pm, and was hope by 2pm the next day. The first couple of days were awkward trying to get in and out of bed with using your as, but you get a killer an workout during that time!! I was back to work full time within three weeks or less after surgery.

I did ask each of my doctors this question...”If your wife or daughter was sitting in my place what would you tell them to do?” I got tired of hearing well it really is your decision when what’s I wanted was an honest opinion, not somebody doctor talk! Once I said that each one said that they highly recommended the mastectomy.

Please keep in mind that a mastectomy does not stop you from having other treatment.