New Here..need to vent emotionally!

Tiffany - sorry you have found yourself here, the club no one wants to join. I understand your feelings and yes you did have cancer and you can feel how ever you feel. This whole thing is a process that you have to work through and it sounds like you have a great attitude. I also didn't need radiation or chemo or tamoxifen, thank goodness. Recovery from surgery takes time and it can be frustrating, there was so many things I felt I needed to do and couldn't but this to shall pass. Try and take care of yourself, take things one day at a time and you will be hugging your kids the way you want. Take care!

Hi Tiffany,

I think the worst part of the recovery from surgery (I also had BMX) was not being able to hug my (then) two-year-old son.  I feel for you.

The others are right.  Take one day at a time.  You will get there sooner than it may seem.

Wishing you a quick recovery,

Deb

hi tiffany310.....I also was dx with DCIS stage 0 but my final pathology report after choosing double mastectomy was "no sign of malignancy only proliferative hyperplasia". I am happy that I chose that route and am going thru reconstruction with bilateral latissimus dorsi flaps after failed implants only due to thin skin. I recently read that the American Cancer Society may redefine DCIS as not being cancer but a precancer.  I was also high risk due to very dense breasts but no family history. The process is easier for me...I think...because thank goodness I don't need any other treatment. I am doing a 24 hour urine to test how my body metabolizes estrogen as I apparently have high estrogen and progesterone levels with no hormone therapy. It will be interesting. Just try to stay positive as hard as it may be as the months do go by quickly. Good luck...Thank goodness for digital mammograms!

Tiffany:

The C in DCIS is carcinoma. Don't ever feel you "don't belong in a group." It's an unfortunate group which no one wants to join, but you are very welcome all over this board. You need not have chemo or radiation to have cancer.  That's the GOOD news about your diagnosis; don't allow the fact you're not having those things to make you feel "left out."  Goodness, most on this board would do about anything to be in those shoes. I know what you're saying though--you probably have acquaintances who say "Ohhh...gosh...will you have to do chemotherapy"?  When you say "No," you may belittle your diagnosis.  Don't let that wear you down.  You're in great shape now, and you'll recover faster than you imagine.  I only had a unilateral mastectomy (no reconstruction) - and I was back at work in 5 days (desk work).  But a bi-lateral is a whole different ballgame. Anything I could do with just my left arm, you can't do at all.  And I can recall someone (who knew I had the operation) INSISTED on hugging me just a few weeks after I had it.  I said "OK, gentle."  They said "Oh, come on - that doesn't hurt!"  I was mortified at their callousness.  Want to know a secret?  This person got breast cancer many years later, and came up to me out of the blue and said "I'm so sorry I said that; I can't imagine what I was thinking." 

You will find a lot of information on DCIS, BMX, and more.  The moderators have pointed you to those sections.  But you will also find a lot of support, and no judging here.  sneeze at.  I

Tiffany I feel like you too. I had my right breast removed and did not have to do treatment. I know what you mean about just recovery, but I do feel that I do belong here. We were blessed that we did not have to do treatment and our recovery will be faster. This group of ladies have rejoiced with me that no treatment was needed.

Please vent, it is a very safe place to do this. These ladies will understand more than most others, because they have gone though this and understand. 

Hugs, it will be better

Hi Tiffany, I was Dx with DCIS too and opted for a Mx. It's quite ok to feel whatever you feel, they don't call this a journey for nothing!

I am one, who did join a local support group at the urging of our Breast Nurse in the town where I live. I actually attended my first meeting around Christmas, a week or so before my surgery, I didn't want to go, but didn't want to be seen as a snob when I had been invited.

It has turned out to be a truly wonderful experience. We have about 22 members now, who are different ages and stages and not once has there been any reference made to DCIS being different or lesser than any of the other Dx. I was welcomed with open arms and have made some wonderful friends, in the process. In fact there are often meetings that BC doesn't even get a mention.

When the woman who started our group had some other health issues, she asked me to help with the administration of the group and I love helping out.

We have speakers on many different subjects, go on outings to the movies and to any BC seminars that are in our region. If one of our members is having a rough time with treatment etc, we rally together to help out, we have funds from money raised from raffles and our gold coin donation ($1 or$2AU) at each meeting, which will buy a gift or help out with grocery items. 

You can go into these things with a lot of pre-concieved ideas, I always give a gentle nudge to people who are conflicted, to at least give it a shot, you don't need to continue, if it isn't for you. These groups are like any other you may attend, if you click with the other members, it's all good!

I didn't really feel that I needed a support group, as such,  Little did I know, I could actually support others who had a worse Dx than me, or someone having a rough time with treatment and they felt comfortable with me, because I had been through the same surgery, felt the same fear and understand what they are feeling.

The other possibility is, you could seek out other women in your area, who have been Dx with DCIS and have an informal meeting at a coffee shop or local library meeting room etc and just see where it goes. 

I wish you luck with whatever you decide to do!