New here, diagnosed last week and glad to find this site.

I am a 45 year old married mom of 15 year old twin daughters and a 12 year old son. I had the mammogram that changed everything in Sept., then U/S, stereobiopsy, MRI, MRI guided biopsy, and then a surgical biopsy of two different parts of my breast which finally revealed my Multi-focal DCIS plus a host of precancerous friends. I was tested for BRCA and should have that result back in 10 days. I do have some family history of breast and uterine cancer and have Ashkenazi ancestry on my dad's side. My BS is a highly qualified Dr. and she thinks that for me given my whole situation that a bilateral is a very sound option. From the minute she told me my path results I thought instinctively that would be right for me. I would otherwise be looking at 10 years of tamoxifen and radiation to the breast and high risk screenings (that is if I don't have the BRCA mutation). If I do have the mutation she said that would make the bilateral totally necessary in her view. At any rate I have been researching like crazy. I have two apps with two plastic surgeons tomorrow. I am going to talk with a medical oncologist as well. It is so helpful to read others experiences here.

As shocking as this diagnosis and the likely treatment has been, I have been through some really tough stuff in the last few years. My mom is a lung cancer survivor and I was her advocate/researcher/cheerleader during that process which was truly terrifying at times. Then almost two years ago both my daughters were dx with a life threatening illness (genetically based) that brought me to my knees on more than one occasion and required a superhuman amount of strength to overcome, it has been a lot but they are finally doing well now. I think in part I am in shock because it doesn't seem real that this is happening now but I guess life has its own timeframe and we have to play the hand we are dealt. I am overwhelmingly thankful that I have a curable cancer at this moment in time and I will do whatever I have to do to get through this. I know I have developed more inner strength over the past few years than I ever thought possible and have learned the values of persistence and patience through these circumstances. Thanks for listening!