new to site

Robin, I'm sorry that no one has responded so far.  Certainly with a couple of sites of either DCIS or LCIS in each breast, your situation is different than most.  For women who have small amounts of low grade DCIS, I often warn about over-treatment - we all tend to worry so much about the breast cancer diagnosis that we don't consider that sometimes the treatments put us at greater risk than the disease.  Usually that's not the case, but if the risk from the disease is very low, then certainly that's a possibility.  But in your case, I don't think you should worry about that.  With DCIS in one breast and with the risk from LCIS in both, I don't think anyone would consider even a bilateral mastectomy to be over-treatment in your case. Which is not to suggest that a BMX is what you should do.... only you can decide what's right for you to do.  But certainly it's one of the options that legitimately should be on your list for consideration. 

I think it's good that you are having the MRI.  MRIs tend to be very sensitive but in your case, that could be good. If there are any other areas of concern in your breasts, hopefully the MRI will show that and that can be very helpful with your decision.  Alternately, if the MRI is clear, that can be helpful too.  If you are uncertain after the MRI, I think what you will want to understand from your doctors is your risk level to be diagnosed again, in either breast. Is that a level that is low enough that you are okay with it and willing to take the chance by having a lumpectomy?  Or is the level high enough that you realize that a MX or BMX is the best option for you?

Good luck with the MRI.  Let us know how it goes. 

Robin, First of all, welcome to our groups here, I am sorry you had to joins the groups no one wants to belong to, but we really are great people here. So much wisdom and compassion.

My Mammogram did not show anything, I found the cancer myself...not good.

I was in your shoes, but right now, just keep an open mind. Your MRI will determine what sort of surgery needs to take place. The MRI will outline where the cancer is, so then the doctor can give you informed options.

I personally wanted the cancer gone, and since I did not have to have radiation or chemo if I went with the mastectomy, that was my choice. I ended up having my second breast removed 18 months later because no one told me my remaining breast would be mammo'ed and MRI'ed and biopsied to pieces, I couldn't cope with it all, so off it came. Once you have had cancer, toe other breast is watched ever so carefully and my nerves did not hold up well with that. it did NOT have cancer, but was precancerous.

Like was said above, it is not so time critical, you can think it through and go with your gut. Read the boards here, lost of information everywhere, and personal stories.