Four months ago

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dsj
dsj Member Posts: 277
edited June 2014 in DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ)

Four months ago, almost to the day, I was diagnosed with DCIS.  (Calcifications on a mammogram, stereotactic biopsy, then diagnosis).  In that four months, I have consulted with 6 physicians; chosen 3 specialists (BS, oncologist, radiation oncologist); researched options; had a lumpectomy; waited for the results; had 25 sessions of radiation with concurrent boost; gotten a prescription for tamoxifen.  Today, I met with my oncologist to map out what is next (tamoxifen, mammogram in August, MRI in February).  Tomorrow, I start titrating off zoloft and onto effexor and in 3 weeks, I start tamoxifen.  It has been a roller coaster; like everyone else, I have gone up and down.  But today does feel like the end of something.  I know there is more ahead (tamoxifen, anxiety of mammograms, etc.)  But  I am hoping, hoping, hoping that I can keep this in perspective.  I do not want my life to be defined by breast cancer.  Of course that is dependent on whether or not I am fortunate enough to avoid a recurrence. I also know that I will always be someone who has/had cancer.  But I feel like I have come through--at least for now.  I have written to all my friends and family to tell them this, but I wanted to say it here too--especially to all the people who have been so wonderful to me on this site.  I could not have done it without you all.  

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  • wyldblumusic
    wyldblumusic Member Posts: 59
    edited May 2010

    Hello, dsj.

    What a wonderful post!  I'm on a similar roller coaster, but I'm a few cars behind you.  I'm already looking forward to having these same thoughts over the next few months.

    Your words made me smile.  Thanks!

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  • mom3band1g
    mom3band1g Member Posts: 817
    edited May 2010

    Yea for you!  You sound like you are in a really good place and that is nice to hear.  I was diagnosed the day before you!  I know we have shared some of our journey together.  I will be starting my rads next Monday (33x).  I am really ready to put this behind me.   This is a train I wish we had never gotten on!  So glad to hear you sounding so good.

    k

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  • dsj
    dsj Member Posts: 277
    edited May 2010

    Kathy, you will be there soon too.  Radiation was not nearly as bad as I feared.  And everytime I went, I thought, "okay, I'm killing some more cancer cells."  And once it's done, you know you've done everything you could and should.  d

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  • redsox
    redsox Member Posts: 523
    edited May 2010

    dsj et al.,

    I agree with your excellent post. 

    This month is the one year mark for me and it feels like time to move on to other matters in life, health, work, etc., while putting this experience in its proper perspective. DCIS has absorbed a lot of my energy in the last year but, if we can avoid recurrence, it should become another of many experiences that are simply part of us.   

    Mom -- I agree that radiation is not that hard.  Just put your head down and gut through it.

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  • dsj
    dsj Member Posts: 277
    edited October 2010

    Five months after I posted above (10 months after diagnosis), I had my first post-surgical, post-radiation mammogram and there was NOTHING suspicious.  I will have an MRI in 6 months, and then another mammogram 6 months later.  So no, it's not over.  But breast cancer is so much less a part of my life (less part of what I do, think about, worry about) than it was last winter.  I guess all I want to say (particularly to those just starting) that for many of us with DCIS there is a light at the end of the tunnel.   

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  • Beesie
    Beesie Member Posts: 12,240
    edited October 2010

    Yeah! to having nothing suspicious show up on your mammo!!!  That's great news!  Congratulations!

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