80 years old with DCIS

Niece-

((Hugs)) to you and to your aunt.  I see from a previous post her DCIS is ER PR negative and high grade.  I hope she (and you) are doing well in whatever path you chose.

Sleuth1- Once again I find your comments to be outrageous, and, frankly, offensive on multiple different levels.  First, 80 is not necessarily "old."  I have seen 40 year olds who are less functional than some 80 year olds I know. 2nd. Niece specifically stated the MX recommendation was made due to the diffuse spread of disease so perhaps lumpectomy was not an option. 3. Your continued disdain of the DCIS diagnosis is really offensive.  Yes, we all get it is pre invasive cancer.  Yes, I get that you personally feel like it is overtreated.  I support your ability to make your own treatment decisions, but stop crapping on mine.  I am not sure I understand why you keep finding it necessary to post on the DCIS board such dismissive and hurtful comments. 

Sleuth1 whoever you are I reiterate - why are you posting inflammatory messages on the dcis board? As far as 80 year old women go per the acc aha guidelines for preoperative risk assessment Which is something I am familiar with as an actual trained professional who went to, yes, medical school, breast surgery is a low risk superficial procedure as far as non-cardiac surgeries go. I do not claim to be an oncologist, I am here to get support and to offer support. All I ask is that you, a non dcis patient, respect our forum and do not post your derogatory comments. If you have a difference of opinion you are welcome to post it, but again, I do not understand your interest in posting on a forum that is about a diagnosis you do not share. And when your info is from ladies home journal as opposed to a reputable ,medical journal, well, I don't really know what to say. Bottom line, mastectomy as a superficial procedure in the right patient is a low risk operation. I am not trying to be anyones doctor here and I actually have an MD after my name. What are your credentials?

Stellar919/sleuth1/ whatever previous names you have used (clearly you have) --

Numerous members of the DCIS forum have politely asked you to stop posting here because you do not have DCIS, know almost nothing about it, and make posts that are unhelpful and unsupportive. 

Once again, please find a more appropriate forum for yourself.

Ok - let's take this down a notch. Stellar/sleuth1: I am glad that you feel good. Truly, that is the most important thing. And I am really ok with anyone with any diagnosis posting on the DCIS board. What I reacted so strongly too is the tenor of your message. It is hard for me, not as a professional, but as a woman, to think back to what I have gone through (and yes, I am fully aware that it is so much less than what so many of our sisters here go through) over the last year. It has been hurtful for me to read dismissive posts that my disease is "just DCIS" and isn't something that may not come back or progress in some iteration to take my life. Although it is a low chance of happening, 1-2% of women with my diagnosis are not here in 5 years.

That for me is very frightening considering my age and the fact that I have 2 small children at home. And I think that I reacted instinctively on some level to that.  

I definitely think we all have to approach our treatment as individuals, and to you Stellar, kudos for following your heart. Your decisions may not be for everyone but they are yours, and that is what is important.  I am fine hearing your opinion, and other opinions, as to treatment - opinions are valid and there is room enough on these boards for all opinions.

What I have the problem with is the blanket dismissive statements about my disease and also the personal attacks on me.

I never said that I am in support of all 80 year old women getting mastectomies. Heck, if it is a grade 1 localized cancer or if there are other health issues or personal preferences going on I can certainly see not doing anything or doing a lump only.  My only point is that I think it is not helpful to post statements saying essentially that it is crazy for an 80 year old woman to consider a MX for a noninvasive disease which is clearly not what the situation was here for Niece's aunt who has high grade ER PER negative DCIS suspected to be in the entire breast with possibly even an invasive component.  My F-I-L had a knee replacement at 90. I thought it was nuts, but he did fine.  Just because someone is older it doesn't mean that they won't make it just fine through surgery. I think it does a disservice to women to scare them unnecessarily - this discussion is best left to individuals in consultation with their docs and families.  

I initially posted to support Niece and her aunt, in whatever path was the right one for them.  I think that is the purpose of the boards for me, and hopefully for others to.  So Niece, if you are out there, I still offer that support and good wishes your way.  I have no desire to have a flame war here, so can we call a truce?