Got the call this morning

Agree with Coolhart - wait until you know everything. No sense alarming them. My sister in law had DCIS - IMO if you have to have BC better to have DCIS. My sister in law said her Oncologist, which turned out to be the same as mine, said she was lucky. Good luck. Keep us posted. Diane

Yes, biopsy can affect nodes.

Hi Beth - I am happy with my reconstruction. I was on the fence about doing it but in the end my daughter and husband persuaded me to do it. I think they look as good as the original set,  but since they put the implants behind the pec muscles they don't feel the same but it is OK.   I think I'd be fine with no recon, too. Whippetmom is our resident expert on implant sizing so if you decide to go that route be sure to check her thread. The main thing is getting the cancer out. There is a good book out there called The Breast Reconstruction Guidebook that was quite useful to me. 

If you ever need anyone to talk to I have been there and would be happy to help in anyway I can.

Hi songlady - Sorry for the terrible news.  I don't know much about the one step method. I think you need to go about the same size or smaller to do it. There is a thread about it called "one step direct to implant anyone?" or something like that. I have heard that often times women still want a revision to fix this and that. I had some pocket work done at the exchange, (which was four months after my last fill) but decided on 3-d nipple tattoos instead of nips. In hindsight I realize that I may have been able to use that third surgery for one more tiny revision. Mine look really good but the left is a tad lower than the right. Oh well. 

I did follow my PS rules to the letter, and she is a stickler!

Divecat on the April Surgery Sisters thread just had one step recon done, so it may help to follow her posts. She is very knowledgeable and I know would be willing to answer any questions you have. 

Any way I can help please let me know. I am past the scared to death stage, so I can handle anything you want to throw at me!

Bethq, I'd suggest that if you're not ready to tell your children yet, that you keep the news close from other friends and relatives for the time being also.  I was going to wait to tell my college age daughters but I had told my aunt and the news started to leak so fast that I had to hurry up and tell them.  You may wonder why I told my aunt what with knowing she's like that?  She is the only relative I have left  besides my brother and kids and she has had BC twice.  Then my best friend knew and her daughter is best friends with my daughter.  Well my point is that you want to be the one to tell them--you certainly don't want them hearing it from the grapevine.  Good luck to you--you do have time so don't make a decision too quickly.  

beth (hug) - I loathed telling my dad  - in actuality it was ok. He was eighty at the time and said "I have seen a lot of things in my eighty years."  I don't know how you can study. I still have trouble concentrating on things like reading a book after over two years. Your family is probably stronger than you think, This is all about you. Vent, cry, collapse - all are permitted and are probably quite healthy and may in the long run aid in your emotional recovery. I tried to be strong too, even to the point of separating myself from the fam and going out to the farm to spend the night because I didn't think the family needed to witness my meltdowns. That was a mistake. My Stephen Minister who is a cancer social worker in real life and with whom I met an hour a week, said I'd be doing myself and my family a disservice if I didn't show them my authentic self. Again - this is all about you. Enlist the help of those closest to you. They will be upset of course, but you'll be amazed how they too can grow from this. They'll get perspective on your recovery a lot quicker than you, so let them be your rock. This is your time. (repeat hug)