Dealing with DCIS - how seasons make a difference

Anonymous · June 2010

Anonymous · June 2010

All this talk about having an MRI biopsy below got me thinking. One of the reasons I'm petrified of having this procedure - and possibly getting bad news is the time of the year.

When I had my MX, it was February. I had it done on a Thursday. By Monday I was able to stuff my drains into a sports bra, put on a big sweatshirt and coat, and go about my business. it was the only "break" I felt I got.

The stuffing I used in my bra was hot - but again, it was winter. I was bundled up. There would have been no way to tell from looking at me that anything was wrong at all.

But we're two weeks from summer. And I'm a big summer person. I swim, run, bike, kayak and last year got into paddle surfing. The thought of having to hide in the house with my drains, or not be able to wear a swimsuit is making me really beyond upset.

I know this probaly sounds shallow, but the mental trauma can be as bad as the physical.

Anyone else feel like this?

baywatcher · June 2010

In my case, the mental trauma was worse than the physical trauma.

Lots to think about before you consent to an MRI.

Good luck to you.

Anonymous · June 2010

Same here.

AlohaGirl · June 2010

It is certainly understandable how you are feeling. You have already been through so much and you don't want to lose your summer on top of everything else! But, my understanding is that most MRI biopsies come back benign. (I know it doesn't feel that way once you have had one biopsy that didn't but chances are this time you will be fine.) Maybe consider whether it would work for you to go ahead and have the biopsy in the relatively near future, and in the (hopefully unlikely) event you get bad news perhaps any further surgery could be deferred until fall? Just a thought. Hang in there and good luck!!

AlohaGirl · June 2010

Also maybe consider having a second radiologist look at the MRI to see if he/she agrees biopsy is necessary? I would imagine there is some variation in how these are interpreted, though I don't really know.

Anonymous · June 2010

Yes, that's exactly what I'm doing. My cancer surgeon and his radiologist anre going to review them and give me a second opinion. So the waiting goes on.

AlohaGirl · June 2010

Hang in there! I hate this waiting stuff ...

RegulJ · June 2010

I loved my big -long sleeve -white linen shirt after surgeries. It covered everything up and still looked good. I could roll up the sleeves if I got hot and roll them down if I was cold. The length was long enough that I pinned my drains to a tank top under that shirt and no one knew.

CTMOM1234 · June 2010

OMG the mental parts of this process, including the waiting and testing, proved to be so much harder for me than the physical. I agree with the others that most things detected via MRI turn out to be benign (mine was, too), but of course, the only stat. that matters is your own, and I know that the odds were that my micro-calcs were probably benign . . . and of course, they weren't, so I no longer am able to get peace from stats.

Wishing you tons of luck and good results, zachsmom!

Anonymous · June 2010

Exactly. It's funny how everyone says they think it's probably nothing, but it wasn't nothing the first time. I also had microcals on a mammogram. I think after that it's hard to take comfort in stats, definitely.

CTMOM1234 · June 2010

I COULDN'T HAVE TYPED THAT BETTER MYSELF, Zachsmom!

Had never even heard what a micro-calc. was, let alone ever expected that a silly routine annual mammo (my second one ever, and previous one the year earlier was fine) would lead to all of this. Had naively thought that since absolutely no one in my family has ever had BC or even an irregular mamo. for that matter, that the biggest pain from getting a mammo. was the fitting it into my day and putting up with some squeezing.

Ah, to go back to that lala land would be so so so dreamy!

Give that cutie in your profile picture a big hug and kiss, live your life, that's far more comforting than playing these stupid mental odds games (I know, easier said than done, but at least you know we're all wrestling with the same demons).

Anonymous · June 2010

OMG!! EXACT SAME HERE! I still remember my co-worker asking me when I came in late to do my mammo in Sept. 2008 if I ever worried about BC. I said absolutely not. No one in my family had ever had it (or any kind of reproductive cancer for that matter). I was/am the poster child for healthy living, never overweight, never smoked a cigarette in my entire life, huge into exercise, not a drinker. Nothing. and then....wham.

And thanks - Zach is 3 1/2 now (I oughta update that pic) and the joy of my life.

Dealing with DCIS - how seasons make a difference

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