My new journey

Debby - I'm sorry to have welcome you to this group but there is tons of great info and support here. Two things you mentioned leaped out at me: drinking and knitting. (Don't try 'em together, haha.) Wine consumption has definitely increased in my household since the dx in November; I am having my lumpectomy on Tuesday and will start my hope for clear margins then.

 I joined the Ravelry knitters with breast cancer board and that has also been a great source of support and comfort. I highly recommend it! (You have to join ravelry.com first, obviously.) Knitting has also zoomed since my dx.

 Best wishes, Jill

Hi Debby,

 I'm new here too. This is actually my first post. I am 45, married, and an active working mom of one fuzzy 11 month old Boxer mix. I received my diagnosis of DCIS on Dec 30, 2009 (Happy New Year!). I visited the BS, Oncologist and PS; read a few posts here and there; and made my decision to have bilateral mastectomies with immediate reconstruction. It was a decision I was very comfortable with and I do not regret it. 

The surgery was Jan 21. It was not that bad. I was an inpatient for only one night. I needed help dressing and bathing. Your chest wall is very sore. I had a flare of a pre-existing colitis condition which was worse than the surgery. I currently have tissue expanders and my new breasts look fantastic. I will have the TE exchanged for permanent implants in several weeks.

 My next big decision is designing the tattoos to decorate my new breasts. Blessings to you, EdieB

Hi Debby.  Your post was cute...I also have dealt with my DCIS dx with humor.  I was diagnosed on Christmas Eve.  The mammogram and MRI showed cancer on the right side only, but I chose to have both done for several reasons:  1.  Peace of Mind  2.  I have a family hx of breast cancer  3.  I am 43 and if I would have had only one done, I would have had one perky breast and one tie.  I am so glad that I did both because they found atypical and hyperplastic cells in the left side after the surgery.  I had surgery on Jan.25th and have had a speedy recovery.  I can't really say it was all that painful:  they keep the pain controlled very well after, but it is difficult to do some things on your own and your mobility is limited.  I had bilateral implants placed under my chest muscle immediatly after the mastectomy because I already had implants.  They put in drainage tubes which are annoying but necessary.  Luckily they are also temporary.  The breasts look pretty good really, except they are smaller than I thought.  The first week they looked kind of square and I kidded that I was Sponge Bob Square Boobs!  But now at 4 weeks they have rounded out quite a bit.  I am overweight, so I think that is why I am not satisfied with the size of my breasts, but the results after are better than I thought they would be.  I still need to get my nipples tattood on (my first tattoos) and I haven't decided if I will get a fake nipple implanted to make it look more real.  I hope this is helpful!  Good luck to you!

Debby I am jealous of you seeing NASCAR in Vegas. I went to the Bush (now Nationwide) race years ago at Charlotte. My husband has said his dream job would be driving the transporter for Tony Stewart. I pull for anybody ahead of Tony just to get some good competition from my husband.

Also, after everything is done with you may still be able to wear those VS bras.

Sheila

The year before my dx of breast cancer I rode with him (he is a long haul driver) one week and we saw several haulers going up the highway I think they were going towards Chicago. I tried to take photos but they didn't turn out very clear, it is hard from the cab of a Semi going 65 mph. We are close enough to Charlotte that once in a while we get the show cars on display at car dealerships/store grand openings and such. I hope to see the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte after it opens this summer. My husband was a diehard Dale Earnhardt fan until his death, he said that he can't fully pull for JR until he proves himself on the track. My hubby still has his #3 hat that he wears.

Sheila

debbys17 - 

This week has been a bit of a pity party for me.  My mastectomy was a month ago today and for some reason I have been down this week.  These forums keep me upbeat but I am also thinking of joining a group at the hospital where I had my surgery.  

My next appt is next Thursday for next steps on this journey.  

Olivia 

Hi Ladies,

I am new to this site.  I just got the news from my BS nurse that I have DCIS. I have a follow up appointment scheduled for tomorrow.  I hadn't heard anything from the office so I called today.  The nurse thought the doctor had called me, when she heard that I hadn't heard from him she asked if I had any questions she could help me with.  I said the only question I had was "do I have cnacer?"  She then told me, but that was all she could say.  Don't know stage, grade, etc.  I had lumpectomy on Feb. 25 with a SNB.  The node was negative.  I noticed a lot of you had a mastecotomy.  What made you decide on that versus just raditation?  I have no idea what my BS will recommend, but I am trying to go in to the appointment tomorrow with as much info as I can.  Thanks to everyone for your help. 

Olivia 218,

Thanks for your feedback.

I chose BMX for several reason...small breast and the DCIS was against chest wall so at least had to do a MAST...family history, high grade, young age, lots of risk factors, did not want to go thru radiation ,and I chose to do the other side for peace of mind and because most people I spoke to told me the comsetic results would be better

My surgeon suggested I get a second opinion because he wanted me to be comfortable with what was going on.  I went to Johns Hopkins and decided to stick with my first surgeon and plastic surgeon. I think the surgeon should be understanding to you wanting a second opinion, it is common and they are not offended.  My surgeon asked me what they told me at Johns Hopkins and I told him.  

My mother still thinks that I had a little surgery and I should just move on.  She said it's over now so get over it.  I have to say she is not a sensitive person and with age it seems to be getting more exaggerated (she is 84).

I hope some of this helps Debby!  I know these boards help me and help me feel a little more normal.

Olivia 

Debbie, quite a few women do get second opinions from both the surgeon and ps. I didn't because my mom had the same surgeon in 2001, I started seeing him in 2005 with my first abnormal mammo needing a biopsy and again in 2006 with my 2nd abnormal mammo needing a biopsy. He was the most knowledgeable about breast cancer in the area and I could trust him to help me make the right decision. When I decided for recon when doing my bilat, I asked him for recommendations on what ps he worked with. He gave me his opinion on 4 PS he worked with and I also asked the local support group who did their recon and came up with the one name I went with.

I guess it was easier for my family since my mom went through bc (single mast, no recon, chemo, rads) in 2001 and they knew what kind of support I would be needing. My husband is a long haul trucker and on the road all week long and home most weekends. Everyone was supportative to me while I was going through all my surgeries. My mom came by every day to make sure that I was ok, drove me to dr's appointments when I couldn't drive, my sister came by, called, brought me meals or took me to her house for meals. My brothers gave me a list of movies they had and would bring me movies to watch while I was home (I only had antenna TV) so they became my 'famflix'.

Sheila

redbarb-

Ok, forgive me if I didn't read your post correctly....but is your diagnosis DCIS?  With 1 unclean margin will they do a re-excision?.  That's good that your nodes are negative.  I had an MRI before my lumpectomy was even scheduled so I think that's pretty standard.  Give us more info!  sorry you have to be here but the women are amazing!