DCIS again? Don't know what to do.

Hi jmb5

Sorry you are going thru this. Dejavu??? I can't advise you on what to do but, what is your gut telling you???? Are you the type that can wait another 6 months or will that drive you nuts?? I guess you need to listen to your inner voice here and go with what you can be most comfortable with. Know now.......or take your chances and deal later???? If I had to go thru it again as much as I would hate it and possibly question it, I know myself I would not want to wait 6 months, that would drive me beyond! I would want to know now and be able to deal with it as quickly as possible.

Listen to your head, heart and surgeon.......best wishes hun.

Is it in the same breast?  I would like to say, I would try to do 3 months scan...but knowing myself I would probably get the biopsy just to be safe.

I know some people who do 3 months scans, which is why I suggested it Thought it may give you some peace of mind.

I totally get the not paying the deductible twice. I am getting as much done this year as possible.  I have met my deductible and my out of pocket expenses, so at this point everything is free.  I've told my husband and if kids, if they feel like breaking any bones, now is the time to do it  

Did they give you a Birad score for the mammogram? I guess if they said it was a score of 4 or 5, I would definitely be getting the biopsy.  If it was a 3 or so, I would see if I could come back in 3 months.

My story is somewhat similar to yours although my DCIS was in left breast.  That was three years ago (DCIS diagnosis) and then this summer another 'scare' with more microcalcifications in left breast (completely benign conditions associated this time).  The ones I had removed this past summer spanned a distance of about 8-9 mm, so a pretty small area, but I am pretty small in the bustline anyhow (not even an A cup).  The nurse practitioner who I met with as well also shared with me there are three 'classifications' of microcalc's.  Benign (of course nothing to worry about), Indeterminite (which is what mine this past summer were classified), and Pleomorphic (more ofen times a definite problem).  Three years ago the ones I had removed which did turn out to be 1.6 mm of DCIS were classified as 'mildly pleomorphic' in appearance and also listed as a 'cluster' which on mamm films did look somewhat circular and close together.  This years description on radiologist report who read mammogram called them a 'grouping of indeterminite calcifications' and they looked a bit more 'scattered' to me and not as close together as the DCIS diagnosis had been and  they turned out to be nothing. I will just go back to regular mammogram screenings again next summer as directed by Breast Surgeon.  Do you have your mammogram report from the radiologist and does it mention pleomorphic or indeterminate or anything like that?

jmb-

I got  called back for a second set of mamms in Aug. One angle showed a row of microcalcs. Radiologist said I had an 80% chance it was nothing, but I needed a core biopsy to be sure. I did that, and was Dx w/ DCIS intermed/hi grade. 

 After my first Ca in -05 I thought I'd conquered it. I didn't do chemo, which would have only given me 1-2%. Now, after recurrence,  I don't feel like taking chances- going for the Mx. But I respect everyone's decisions!!!

xo,

mgm 

jmb5

I was  40 years old  first time left breast 2 lumpectomies and 37 rad treatments. I am 46 now, this time DCIS right breast high grade with necrosis. It also showed a second area with  atypical ductal hyperplasia with microcalcifications. I have an appoitnment 10/19 to discuss my options.  I am freaking out that i may not have a choice and will need a  MX.   I had always said if it came back in my good boob i would chop it off, but now that it's here i am freaking out.  I don't know what to do.

I go see my BS tomorrow and she will tell me what my options are for surgery.  Good Luck on the waiting part.  Doesn't it really stink that we have to work around our insurance, like we are not going through enough already!

jmb5

I'm glad I made you laugh.  Laughing gets us through this crap, doesn't it?

I waited nearly forever to come to a decision as to how to approach my DCIS.  The oncologist and surgeon both said not to stress.  The good part is that with DCIS, you have time to research and think your decisions through.

Devil's Advocate on the waiting for the biopsy---is the issue that your insurance won't cover it?  Because if there is the least chance you might have to do more treatment, you might want to find out when you can still sign up for a medical savings plan and what have you.  Just a thought.

With my original diagnosis, I had set money aside anticipating that my middle monster would need braces.  We ended up using the money on my BadBoobie.  Now here we are again at enrollment time.  My mammogram is set for this Friday.  If there is anything wrong, I will hold the line on anything major until the new insurance rounds but I will have time to arrange things with the medical savings plan to help on the tax end.

What is it with the braces?  Honestly I was encouraging Middle Monster to be a brain surgeon but now I'm thinking orthodontist is the way to insure me a fine retirement. . . .

Double deductible stinks.  I don't have a wretched deductible so the other consideration worked better for me. 

hmm, just looked at your signature:  I think we were on the same timeline only you were diagnoised a bit later than I was.  I can proudly say that I was diagnoised at the exact same time they issued the press release saying self exams and mammograms for women under 50 were pointless.    I delayed my lumpectomys to February and started zaps in March.

You may want to check with your individual insurer but some have the policy that if you fulfill your deductible in the last quarter of the year, that it counts for the next calendar year... Never knew that until this whole roller coaster began in may... Good luck to you. We have super high oop costs and I am dreading all the costs associated with it.

Wishing you the very best!!  The Birad 3 is a good sign. I would probably schedule the stereo. for Jan.1 AM (or Jan.2 as top doctors won't work on holidays) just to save the deductible, but then again, the waiting is soooo stressful, so I'd be going back and forth with that, too. Ugh.

I'm another in the club diagnosed with dcis in the left @ ~40 years old at nearly the same time that the stupid rec. about no need to do mammograms for those under 50 came out; it was only my 2nd mammo that caught the dcis, probably was there with the first one but I have dense breasts. I can remember feeling as though my whole world was spinning around me when they reported that on the news, but also thankful that I did get the mammo. because at least it was caught early. Had that $%$^$ recommendation come out a few months earlier and I'd likely have looked at it as permission to forego the squishing for years . . . and considering my dcis also had a trace of idc in it, well, I can't even type what'd that would have meant for me had I waited until 50 or even 45.

(edited: sorry not sure why my post has different fonts in)