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Basia
Basia Member Posts: 790
edited June 2014 in DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ)

I received the phone call from the radiologist a few hours ago. My biopsy report was in and he finally had a few minutes to talk to me. I was diagnoses with DCIS, stage 0 with nothing in the lymph node. I am happy that it isn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. I went to the dr after feeling a lump which turned out to be 6cm..I still don't understand how it grew to be that big in such a short time.  So, my question to you is what is next? I know I need an MRI, but what happens next? 

Even before the diagnosis, the BS I met with suggested a mastectomy because of the size and shape of the mass.  But is that the right action? Or is this too aggressive? I am waiting till after the MRI to get a second opinion...the breast center at sloan kettering wont see me until then.  

Thank you!

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  • CandDsMom
    CandDsMom Member Posts: 387
    edited August 2010

    Hi Basia- Sorry that you have reason to join this club too but you have come to the right place - I have found the women on this board to be both amazing and supportive.

    I think you are doing the right thing in collecting more data points with the MRI and also (especially) the second opinion.  If a larger area shows up on the MRI you can always have MRI guided biopsy to further define just how big the area of DCIS is.  

    As far as I am aware mastectomy is really only required in DCIS when it is multifocal/multicentric (and this is not set in stone rule - although it was not the case for me (this was my dx) there are women on this board in this situation who were able to breast conserve due to the size of their breast as well as the location of the multifocal DCIS).  The other main indication for mastectomy is when a large area of DCIS is found in a small breast and the cosmetic outcome would be unacceptable with a lumpectomy.  And of course, mastectomy or even contralateral prophylactic mastectomy can be chosen by a women in this situation as well (more of a personal choice if lumpectomy is an option the surgeon is ok with).

    Obviously there are other modifiers to this (BRCA status for instance) but I would think it is hard for a surgeon to automatically say you need a MX without biopsies of at least several sites of the 6cm area if breast conservation is what you are interested in.

    Fortunately, with DCIS, you have some time to do this research and get informed (which it sounds like you are well on the road already!).  take care!

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  • CTMOM1234
    CTMOM1234 Member Posts: 633
    edited August 2010

    I agree with the previous poster. After my stereo. biopsy confirmed DCIS (first suspected after micro-calcs. showed up on my routine annual mammogram at age 44), I met with a BS thinking I'd have a lumpectomy discussion and was surprised how quickly he brought up mastectomy. He sent me for BRCA testing (thankfully came back negative) and an MRI (showed nothing in breast with DCIS but led to a biopsy in the other breast, thankfully benign), and then when we next met he said I could either have a lumpectomy w/ rads or mastectomy. I also met with a plastic surgeon to discuss my options while I waited for the BRCA results, because I wanted to be ready to go as soon as that last piece of info. came in.

    The scheduling of appointments, testing, and waiting for results is truly the hardest part. Once you have the facts, putting the plan in place will happen more quickly. whatever decision you choose will be the right one for you.

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  • AmyD
    AmyD Member Posts: 75
    edited August 2010

    I was dx with a 4.5 cm area and I have small breasts.  Cosmetically, mastectomy was the choice I was given, and I did and still do believe it was the right one.  That was a year ago.  The MRI confirmed the size.  Interestingly, screening mammogram was "normal" <3 months prior.  Read, ask questions and hang in there.

    Amy

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  • Basia
    Basia Member Posts: 790
    edited August 2010

    This may be TMI, but I have had bloody discharge from my nipples and this is freaking me out! Is this "normal"? I never had this before until the dr started poking around and then it stopped but this morning there was some staining on my shirt. Left message for Dr, waiting for return phone call.

    Thanks! 

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  • NSWTD
    NSWTD Member Posts: 210
    edited August 2010

    I hope you have called your dr by now.  Let us know how you are doing.

    Best wishes, 

    NSWTD

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  • Basia
    Basia Member Posts: 790
    edited August 2010

    she said it  could be from the biopsy, nothing to worry about

    thanks 

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