I need some hope....

So sorry you are going through this, especially at this time in your life.  I had grade 3, multi focal, multi centric DCIS with lots of comedo necrosis and NO node involvement.  I had a UMX last June and am doing well.  I have been taking tamoxifen since July, but am currently on a short sabbatical to see if some of the side effects improve while off the drug or if I am just experiencing some intensification of menopausal symptoms.  

I was diagnosed on 4/28 and did not have my UMX until 6/15.  

Best of luck to you as you move through this.  I see you are new.  Let me recommend that you search for a member named Beesie and read some of her posts on DCIS.  She is a wealth of knowledge and has some very helpful posts to aid you in your decision making. She is a voice of reason and calm.  Check her out!  There are also some great list and info to help you prepare yourself, your family and your home for your surgery and recovery. 

Please keep in touch and let us know how you are doing.  Sending you healing, calming and peaceful energy.  Take care.

Hi, cailindearg -- I'm in the same boat and my BMX is on the 19th.  Because only DCIS has been found, there is no reason to think that the nodes are involved.  If you look through some of the discussions, you will see in people's signatures lots of info on their nodes -- 0/2 nodes, 0/4 nodes, even 0/22 nodes!  The numerator is the number of nodes involved and the denominator is the number of nodes taken.  Unless there has been some undetected invasion, the nodes should be clear.  Best wishes on the 12th!

Hi callindearg

I had a lot of comedeo necrosis but had no node involvement. My dr removed 2 of the setinal nodes on the cancer side but none on the other side. I had te's placed during BMX and just had my exchange surgery a month ago. Best of luck for your upcoming surgery. The surgery was not as bad as I anticipated. Feel free to pm me if you have any questions about the surgery. I would be happy to answer them for you. Take care

Cindy

My Dx was the exact same....however, after my first lumpectomy,my margins were NOT clear.....I opted for a second lumpectomy and 6wks of radiation......I spent my 60th bd,having radiation.....That was exactly one year ago.....and I still wonder if I did the right thing....I have had two check ups and mamms within the year.....both times negative....however, both times, I was sent in for more specific mamm pictures....just when I stopped thinking about the cancer on a daily basis.....its still those little things that have you always asking if the lumpectomies were really the right decision.......That feeling of "doom" only creeps up on you when they ask for more X-rays......I do keep a close eye on it.......but honestly.....I have to believe,a double mastectomy is the way to go......I'm just waiting for the dx of "ALERT,MALIGANCY"....once again...........You are doing the right thing.....my thoughts and prayers of you slowly losing your anxiety are with you......it WILL go away.....slowly.....but everyone of us know exactly how you feel......we have been there....you will be too.

Hello-

I am not exactly in your shoes, but I was diagnosed with ER/PR negative grade 2-3 DCIS with necrosis in March 2010 a few weeks after I turned 35. I had a BMX, and reconstruction and am 27 months later and feeling good at age 37! I had a 9 month old and a 2 year old at the time of diagnosis. They are now nearly 3 and 5 and doing great, loving having their mama be a big part of their lives. It sucks to deal with any of this, but time keeps chugging along and all seems ok. Once I hit 40 I think I will feel better (?maybe) but it does, at any rate, get better with time. You can do this! Are you registered for the picture forum? V. Helpful for recon issues...

Best wishes

Hi there Cailindearg, I had DCIS, grade 3, at biopsy.  And I also didn't have clear margins the first time around.  That's also really common with DCIS.  What's really UNcommon is having node involvement.  Your diagnosis would have to change dramatically for that to be the case, and since they already did one lumpectomy, it's a good possibility that you're in the clear.  

I'm the same age as you are...I was 42 at diagnosis.  It's going to be okay.  I'm almost to my "cancerversary" and I'm feeling really good, mentally and physically.

Steph

Calli, the waiting gets to you, i was grade three, ductal carcinmoma, had a lumpectomy and rads, they did not  offer me a masctomy and they offered me chemo, but with a slim chance it would do me any good, like 7% chance out of a 100 that i would get any benefit, so opted out of it and had rads and tamoxifen.  just had follow up mamo and they have found significant changes in the other breast and i have to have a repeat mamo on the 12th of this month,  just had  one on 18th of may which alerted them to the changes. another waiting game. i am praying you have  a positive outcome and i will keep you in my prayers. it is very nerve wracking all this stuff. Take care. , thinking of you.  hugs xxxx  p/s, i had no lymph involvement.

 I eat heaps of salmon, my mom suggested that almonds are an excellent source of food, and a drink she has, i have not done it yet is honey and cinaman,   ( excuse the spelling) in hot water at night. supposed to be good for your imune system. i have not tried it as yet, i keep forgetting to get the cinaman.  i have the honey. so that may be a help. i cant say how good it is as i have not tried it, but according to mum, its supposed to beexcellent. she said, they got it off the web.  i do eat almonds though and also brazilian nuts are a good food too. just some hints. take care.