DCIS on Biopsy -- Scared -- lots of questions

I don't know the answer to your exact question. I am sure more helpful women will post to help you out. But I do want to say that I know how terrifying this all is and to stress that there are lots of amazing treatments out today and your prognosis for a long, healthy, happy life should be excellent.  Envision your children's high school and college graduations and weddings and plan on BEING THERE to celebrate.  Do not give in to fear and start planning your funeral (I did this -even picked out the music!) - it is a huge waste of time and emotional energy. And you need to conserve your energy to be thinking clearly and making good decision for the battle ahead.

Didn't a breast surgeon do your biopsy? I would think that would be who you would discuss this with - not your PCP, who, I would think, would sort of bow out at this point. But perhaps I am wrong. I know taht for me, when the biopsy showed cancer (invasive), I worked exclusively with the surgeon and oncologist (and eventually radiologist) and never saw my PCP again until I stopped in there to get a flu shot many months later when it was all done.

Even if it IS invasive, even if you do need chemo or further treatment, you can do it and come out the other side strong and healthy. I just finished in May and am doing awesome.  

I KNOW it is so frightening. Try to stay calm - ask for anti anxiety meds if you need them on the short term.  NO ONE is more anti-drugs than I am (or than I used to be, more honestly), but the few xanax I took at the beginning so that I could eat and sleep helped me tremendously.

PM me if you want to talk more. I wish you peace.

in sisterhood & support,

Amy

redeansrowe, this is a very scary time and I am sorry you are going through this.  It is important that you don't give in to the fear and use your energies in positive ways.  Personally, getting information was helpful but when I started to feel scared/overwhelmed, I would shut my computer off! 

It is important that you trust your doctors during this process.  I was dx on 3/27 after a stereotactic biopsy and I had a large hematoma after that procedure, too.  I met with a breast surgeon, plastic surgeon, and radiation oncologist to gather information about all my options.  This helped so much and guided my decisions about treatment based on what the breast surgeon recommended. 

I had a lumpectomy 6/2 and my husband had the same concern--can cancer cells spread from biopsy or surgery?  The surgeon was very clear about this--DCIS cannot be spread by surgery or biopsy.  I will need more surgery because the margins on my pathology were not wide enough.

I have an appointment with an oncologist once I am done with surgical treatment.

It is important that you feel confident that all your questions are being answered. Don't hesitate to make another appointment to go over your concerns.  Where I am being treated, there is one nurse dedicated to this for the breast surgeon. 

I hope this helps a bit...peace to you!

My husband had the same worries about spreading the cancer by operating and doing the lumpectomy.  We were assured both by the breast surgeon and by the oncologist that wasn't a possibility.

Hang in there!  Once you get treatment figured out you will start feeling better but like I said on the other thread, with DCIS, you do have time to figure out treatment so don't feel like you have to make decisions on partial information.  Feel free to pm if you wish.

fellow mother of 3 here--8.5, 10 & 12.5

i was diagnosed with DCIS very small.. size does matter.. it was high grade as well. and you wont know until after you choose an option of surgery what the final pathology is.. I choose a lump and mammosiite (radiation for one week and mid way through it this week).. my pathology turneed out to be DCIS and nothing more.. but I hear 10-20 percent of the time the diagnosis will change but not that radically.

I just put my life on hold until I found out last thursday. it is frigthtening to say the least.

and you have to research and look at all options. if I would have gone to anyother cancer center, mammosite woujld not have been offered and it was the best for me... and I love my radiation doc.. and they were very patient and spent a ton of time explaining things to me..

but take a breath.. I didnt sleep for weeks and decide. some people wait months. ME, i wanted it done and to move on with my life.

good luck

Hello, rdeansrowe.

The beginning of this process is so very difficult.  It should hopefully start getting better once you have the referral to a breast specialist.  The specialist should do an exam and and possibly order a bilateral MRI.  Be sure to show them the area in your armpit that is giving you concerns.  If they do not offer the MRI, ask for one.

I also worried that the DCIS could be in other areas or even in my other breast, so I asked for a MRI.  So, after a mammo, ultrasound, and MRI showed only the original area of DCIS, I felt confident that a lumpectomy would remove it.

Do start to write all of your questions for your appointment with the specialist.  I was very foggy brained at the beginning of this, so bringing written questions with me really helped.

Sending some peaceful wishes your way.