DCIS

Options
Tootie1
Tootie1 Member Posts: 6
edited June 2014 in DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ)
DCIS
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • Tootie1
    Tootie1 Member Posts: 6
    edited October 2011

    I have just been diagnosed with DCIS after an open excisional biopsy 9/2011.  The DCIS is very small 0.4cm, low to intermediate grade (1/2), no necrosis.  My first open excisional biopsy back in 2/2011 showed LCIS.  I have LCIS bi-laterally - classic type in both breasts.  My breast surgeon is recommending a double mastectomy.  Has anyone had a similar situation to me?  I just turned 37 last week and I feel its an aggressive approach but I'm assuming the dr. would know best.  It would help if anyone has had a similar situation to let me know how they dealt with it and what there outcome is so far.  Thanks in advance.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • dragonfly55
    dragonfly55 Member Posts: 235
    edited October 2011

    Hi Tootie1,

    Your words "Dr. Knows best" I just heard today from a friend (ovarian and brain cancer survivor). After I told her I had DCIS (high nuclear grade, ER-/PR-). She said do your research, remember what you inhale, ingest and do all affect what is happening inside your body. And don't always think "dr. Knows best." if your gut feeling is "no" ask questions, research and get second opinions and info from your peers as you are. What were your dr's reasons for mxs





    I don't know what my treatment is yet as I don't see my BS til Nov15m



    There are a few sections where you might find answers you need: newly diagnosed, surgery, DCIS



    I know it will be a tough decIsion and at 37. I know you'll make the decision that is right for you.



    Take care of yourself! ((( Hug)))

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • 3monstmama
    3monstmama Member Posts: 1,447
    edited October 2011

    I'm sorry about your diagnosis.  I agree wholeheartedly that if you feel funny or off about what is being recommended, you need to research and get second, even third opinions.  I got that advise from a friend who is a doctor and it was the best thing for me.  When I met my second breast surgeon, I felt much more confident and ready to do what we needed to do.  And mind you, prospective surgeon #1 was perfectly nice and well trained BUT she had just enough less experience than #1 surgeon that I would have ended up with a partial mastectomy.

    The "good" thing about this cancer is that you can take time to make decisions.  My first diagnosis was in November--my first surgery not until February.

    Good luck!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • rn4babies
    rn4babies Member Posts: 409
    edited October 2011

    In July I was dx'd with DCIS, Grade 3 with comedo necrosis, 0.4cm. I also have ADH in the same breast and an extremely strong family hx. So far my "good" breast hasn't shown anything abnormal.  My doctor didn't even mention masectomy to me. He even thought maybe I wouldn't need radiation but my MO strongly recommended it due to the high grade. I personally will take the "wait and see" approach. I know that if it appears in the same breast again, I'll have no choice but to have a MX. My mother and aunt had lumpectomies with radiation and tamoxifen. On the other hand, my sister had a BMX at age 37 because she had 2 areas of DCIS in one breast and chose have BMX so she wouldn't have to worry about the "good" breast. So you see, there is no standard treatment choice. You have to do your research and decide what's best for you.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Tootie1
    Tootie1 Member Posts: 6
    edited October 2011

    Thanks to all of you for your stories.  It definitely helps when your going through something like this to know that there are other people out there going through the same thing.  The breast surgeon didn't really have a solid explanation on the double BMX.  He just said that because they found LCIS in February and they now found DCIS he just thinks that is the best course of action to prevent me from getting BC in the future.  Then he said he can do the lumpectomy but he wasn't sure on radiation.  He said I would possibly need radiation.  He said that if I had a lumpectomy with no radiation by chance of getting BC in 10 years would be 35%.  On the other hand when he called me with my results of DCIS he scared the living day lights out of me and said that within 5 yrs my chances were 90% and that he highly recommended the BMX.  This is from a well known surgeon in the NYC area.  So I was confused when I went to talk to him that my percentage had dropped so much.  I had so many other questions that I didn't think to ask him why my percentage changed so much.  This is why I need to seek more dr's opinions because I'm not really sure that this is the right route for me to take at this point in my life. 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories