Where do I start

Sharona -

Yep - husband, 2 kids (teen girls, no less), full time & then some stress-filled job, 2 pugs (almost as much stress as job + kids) normal mammos, then wham. After a planned vacation, I had the 'partial mastectomy' (no lump) about 8 weeks after dx. I took a week off work for that. Rads started about 6 or so weeks later, and I finished up right at the end of the year.  I worked the first couple of weeks, then took medical leave for 5 weeks. A few things - results aren't typical. I am horrible about work - too much of it & too much loyalty. I decided that I had the leave, I was physically and emotionally exhausted - the rad fatigue is not feeling sleepy, it is something else - and it was time to take care of myself. Best thing I could have done. The family did ok - although it was still somehow incumbent on me to 'do' Christmas, and it was tough convincing them that I wasn't cooking or cleaning for the duration. 

The DCIS process can be nerve-wracking, but the thing about it is that you will come out the other side just fine.  It took some doing for the rad onc to convince me that I'd be ok, but he did & I am. It would have been much different if there'd been stuff in more than one spot or if I'd had mastectomy and reconstruction. I met several times with a counselor at the cancer center & it helped a lot.

Big hugs...you have a lot on your plate.  Take care and take time.

Michelle, since you just had a breast reduction, if it turns out that your best surgical option is a mastectomy but you have only a single mastectomy, you probably won't need to have anything done to your 'good' breast.   Implant reconstruction tends to result in breasts that are firm and high on the chest - sort of like 20 year old boobs but without the natural movement (or natural nipples).  For those of us who have a single mastectomy, an older natural breast (I was 49 when diagnosed) doesn't match that well to a new perky breast.  For smaller breasted women, a good option is to add an implant.  This perks up the natural breast by adding fullness at the top and creates better symmetry with the reconstructed breast.  For larger breasted women, the option is usually a reduction and a lift.   And for those of average size, sometimes it's just a lift.  In your case, since you've already had the reduction, and I assume, a lift, you can probably get great symmetry if you have a single mastectomy without any further changes to your healthy breast.

But.... if the imaging show no further signs of cancer, then since you already have good margins, you may not need any additional surgery at all.  I understand your immediate urge to have a bilateral - it's a natural reaction when you've first been diagnosed - but with a 1cm Grade 2 DCIS with good margins, your recurrence risk with no further surgery may be quite low and given time, you may decide that no more surgery is a better option than a bilateral.  Waiting this extra time isn't easy, but it will help you get a clear head so that you can decide which option is best for you for the long-term.

Do you know what tests your doctor plans?  Will you be having an MRI?  It used to be thought that MRIs weren't good at detecting DCIS because they don't 'see' calcifications, but recent studies have shown that MRIs are significantly better than mammograms at showing DCIS.  So if your doctor doesn't have an MRI planned, you may want to ask about having one. 

Usually, strong drugs can be minimize along with other chemical compounds and also elements like strychnine the poison used to wipe out vermin and can become harmful to humans also Probably they're going to, perhaps they won't The amount of the therapy can differ via 3 to 6 months Unless you are really rich as well as really educated, real world will be monotonous Nobody really should need to feel as though he has been managed by despression symptoms or even nervousness you will want the assistance and also support you would like to get your health back in line [url=http://drugrehabcenters84.blog.com/2012/01/22/drug-rehabs-within-nj]drug treatment centers mn[/url]

Poor selections occur because of this passion, resulting in offender carry out; this will cause sense of guilt in the criminal behave Jesse Purves opines, treatments may vary a whole lot according to period of dependency and also other components Many illnesses and conditions could be improved by way of changes in diet regime on it's own A number of the negative effects may be everlasting, there are acknowledged lasting side effects After attention, living knowledge and interaction skills [url=http://www.nonviolenceinternational.net/wiki/index.php/Britney_bald:_Why_does_Britney_Warrior_spears_get_rid_of_the_girl_head?]drug rehabilitation centers in virginia[/url]

Quoxdautt, since you've come back here after your initial 2 spam posts, I'm guessing you might be back again.  So I will address you.  You are a useless, inconsiderate spammer.  Spamming on a breast cancer support site is about as low as a spammer can go, don't you think?  So how about you leave and take your spam to a website where people aren't dealing with cancer diagnoses? 

Folks, push the "Report this Post" button let's get these posts deleted.