45 and diagnosed with LCIS in Massachusetts

I was 41 when I was diagnosed in Jan 2008 with LCIS and ADH.  I have been on tamoxifen for a year now and the only side effects I have had are night sweats occasionally.  Other wise I have felt great.  I go to the breast surgeon every three months, oncologist every 6 months and I will have another MRI this month as well.  So you ought to give tamoxifen a try to see if you can tolerate it.  To me I thought the BPM was to radical for me at my age.  But you have plenty of time to make your decision.

Holly

Hi,

LIke mykidsmom, I also chose PBM with an ALH, ADH, LCIS diagnosis. I had numerous biopsies over the years and recently three core and two lumpectomies. It seemed they would always find more calcifications on the mammo or suspicious areas on the MRI and I would always need another surgery to verify it was not invasive. It was making me and my family crazy. I just could not go forward thinking I did not have invasive cancer but if I waited, I might get it. I am not one who can live with regrets. We talked about tamoxiphen, but I have another condition which prevented me from taking it, so the decision was made for me. 

I can not tell you the sense of relief I felt when I woke up in the recovery room two weeks ago and thought its over. It was exactly what I needed to move on.

I am doing ok now, the cosmetic results are amazing because my incredibly skilled docs saved my nipples and skin.  I have little beat up As which they will fill back to Cs. The pain has been bearable, the nerve sensations have been very unpleasant , but everyone says they will subside.

Good Luck with your decision, it is a very personal one. Up to the last minute, I had doubts, but now I am at peace and so is my family

Lee 

Gal,

I too was dx with LCIS in Nov. 08.  I went to 5 Dr's to see what my choices were. Because I had many calcifications the BS said she might not see a cancerous tumor if one was there.My risk was 65 to 85 percent of getting cancer later on. Too high for me. So I chose to have a PBM.

I'm so glad I did. My surgery was on 1/9. My BS did skin sparring and my PS put in implants not tissue expanders.I feel great this week. I'm driving and doing things around the house again. My risk factor went from 65 percent to 1 to 10 percent. And the LCIS is GONE !

Don't rush into anything yet get as much info. as you can. My choice isn't for everyone. I couldn't take the stress of not knowing what was going to be every 6 months. Now I have peach of mind. Please PM if I can help you with anything.

Ann

Lee,

Sorry to hear your having nerve sensations. That didn't happen to me.I hope you'll feel better soon

Ann

Galnx - The procedure you described sounds like DIEP. A lot of ladies on this site had that procedure and are very happy w/ the results. I know that Amy has the link to a reconstruction site that lists a number of choices, but I don't know the web site. She will probably post it. Also, you can talk to one or more PS's. They should provide you w/ options, though they may not provide you will ones they don't do. Your BS can probably recommend a PS. I actually chose my hospital and surgeon based on my PS, you will need to work w/ your PS for quite a while. Best wishes my dear! - Jean

LeeMcC - I am sorry you have to deal w/ this, but, it is better than other dx you could have received. I expect your surgeon will refer you to an oncologist who will give you the options for dealing w/ this dx. The most common options are 1. Close monitoring w/ oncologist, breast surgeon, MRI and mammograms on a rotating 3 months schedule. 2. Same as 1 but w/ the addition of tamoxofin and 3. Bilateral mastectomy as a preventative measure. Only you can decide which approach will work for you. Hugs my dear. - Jean