diagnosed with DCIS, how soon should I get surgery done

HI,

I am pretty new to this, too. But a few steps ahead of you. Have had the stereotactic biopsy, PET scan, CT scan, and lumpectomy-actually have no lump, just two areas of microcalcifications. Anyway, I wanted the surgery done asap, but you also have to be very comfortable with your options and arm yourself with a lot of knowledge and support. The obvious lump is no doubt a hematoma from the needle biopsy-many women get those and they are nothing to worry about. It is just pooled up blood. Ask your 2 surgeons on Monday to check it out, but do not get worked up over it. Good luck! 

I don't think waiting until January is "too late" at all, especially if both surgeons agree. Yes, it's scary to have high-grade DCIS, but remember that even invasive cancer takes many years to grow... a month here or there is not going to make a big difference, if you have good reasons that you need to hold off a few weeks.

Sorry that you have been diagnosed, I know this is a scary time.  I was diagnosed with DCIS in my left breast in June 2009.  I researched my options for an entire month before making the decision to have skin sparing mastectomy with immediate DIEP reconstruction.  My surgery was done on August 13th.   I decided to have a mastectomy on the right side as a preventative measure so that I would not have to worry about cancer in that breast every time I went back for a mammogram.  I am glad that I did.  

 I also had a lump where my stereotactic biopsy had been.  The radiologist put a metal marker in the place where they took the biopsy for future reference on mammogram/x-ray.  I think I had scar tissue and maybe my body didn't like that little piece of metal in there.   Follow your gut, I find that always helps me so much in making decisions.  If I can help you in any way, feel free to ask.  Hugs, Tammy

Hi there....sorry to hear of your diagnosis but you've caught it early and have great options for a 100% recovery!  Just wanted to share my story with you.  I too was dx with DCIS in Aug after a stereotactic biopsy - I got my results the day I was heading to Hawaii for vacation so perfect timing!!  Fortunately the MRI showed it only in my left breast but I still chose to have a double mastectomy b/c my aunt had DCIS in both breasts at 48 and I was only 40 so I didn't want to have to worry every 6 months of WHEN it would show up again.  I also chose the DIEP reconstruction which I had on 9/28 b/c it seemed to be the most "natural" and best fit for me and my husband.  I found a fabulous plastic surgeon and he didn't even blink an eye when I met with him the first time that it could be done.  I did test negative for BRCA 1 and 2 gene so my choice was purely based on never worrying again about cancer showing up in my breasts and not having to do any follow up treatments like Tamoxifen or radiation.  Once you radiate the breast, if your cancer comes back you can't radiate again so it would be an automatic mastectomy - if you chose a lumpectomy + radiation, so that was something to consider as well. 

Unfortunately my reconstruction didn't go as we had planned - my left flap formed a hemotoma b/c one of my arteries they took from my left side from 5 previous laperoscopies was "compromised" so they had to remove the entire flap and I went with the implant.  I'm having my last reconstruction surgery Jan. 6th and I can't wait. 

I am meeting with the oncologist for the first time today to "check the box" b/c my breast surgeon said we got all of the cancer and I shouldn't have to do any follow up treatments because I did the bi-lateral mastectomy.  So....there's my story, albeit long, just wanted to share my situation.  I'm very happy with my choice and so is my husband and family/friends.  It is a long surgery but the short term inconvenience outweighs the long term worries.  I missed 6 weeks of work but usually it's about 4 weeks - you are recovering from the incision in your stomach and breasts.  Take your time to heal....

Good luck and feel free to PM if you have any other questions - I'm happy to help!!  Everyone was fabulous on here for me so I want to give back if I can. 

Kim

Im sorry you have to go thru this. My thoughts and prayers are with you for a full recovery. My mammo was beginning of Aug, lumpectomy end of Sept, (because I insisted for them to stop poking around!). I just started radiation and will go till mid to late Jan. They sure take their time. They claim there was no rush. We just have to trust them I guess.

Take care and keep the faith.

Jules

I was a day or two shy of the 1 month mark between dx and surgery. I had a family vacation planed 2 weeks after I found out, and was willing to cancel that, but my surgeon said being around family was the best medicine that I could have at the moment. Looking back at it, boy was he right! He also mentione what some of the other ladies have mentioned that my DCIS has been "brewing" around in there for years, so a few weeks wouldn't make that much of a difference.

From start to end, everything went on for 5 months, starting with my routine, suspisious mamo in June 2006, to finishing up with rads by the middle of Novenmber 2006.

Let us know what your decision is, and I'll be thinking of you!

Jane1254 ~ Try to find ways to relieve your anxiety.  Whenever I started to worry about my cancer, I would tell myself that " we are not going there"! Then I would start thinking of something pleasant that I like to do. Divert your thoughts to a more pleasant place.

I had a skin sparing unilateral mastectomy with implant reconstruction.  An expander were placed right after the BS did the mastectomy. Went out to lunch with friends 2 days after the surgery! After about 6 weeks I had fills 3x to stretch the pec musscle to make a pocket for the implant.Then had to wait 6 weeks before the exchange to implant. The exchange to the implant surgery was much easier than the matectomy

Opps! I was diagnosed with IDC and not IBC.