New DCIS Diagnosis and Pregnant

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keepingfaithduringthestorm
keepingfaithduringthestorm Member Posts: 5
edited March 2015 in Just Diagnosed

Hello, since being diagnosed last week with DCIS I have been on this site quite a bit reading all of the posts. The posts are such a wonderful source of inspiration and information thank you all for opening yourselves.

My story, I am 34 weeks pregnant with twins I have had a VERY VERY rough pregnancy and have gone through some literally life changing events during this time. I never thought in a million years I would yet be faced with another challenge of having breast cancer during my pregnancy. I lost my Mother at 58 just 2 years ago to cancer it was an unknown primary cancer, I was her primary caretaker during her journey with cancer and it was a very difficult one and traumatic for me. I never thought I would would have to face this road again so soon.

Although I am extremely grateful that it is DCIS, I was ER/PR positive I am still waiting on the BRCA to come back. I do have bilateral micro calcifications and dense breasts on mammo which is another reason I am leaning towards double mastectomy. My Surgeon recommended lumpectomy but I am opting for mastectomy she then agreed with my decision. There is no doubt I plan to have double mastectomy if the BRCA comes back positive. My mind is racing I just can't seem to turn it off there are so many thoughts in my head. I may opt for bilateral mastectomy either way as I do not want the worry of having cancer in the other breast years from now. I am in the process of seeing several Dr's as I want all the information I can get prior to making my decision. This is my first pregnancy and this itself was a journey getting here, and I have always dreamed of breast feeding so that is another factor that plays a role in my decision making. I can breast feed from one breast if I opt to keep it. I realize I could have mastectomy and reconstruction later on down the road but I really don't want to have to have two more surgeries especially with two kids running around. My decision I make will be one that is best for me and my family in the long run. This has all been very very devastating to me and I am trying my best to stay positive, it's hard when you are at home on bed rest unable to get out and about. I have been on bed rest since I went into pre term labor at 27 just turning 28 weeks pregnant. My pregnancy itself is making me miserable I am on meds to control the contractions all I want to do is have these babies and get on with my life.

My questions to you beautiful ladies is just your - personal experiences especially if similar to mine - If you had implants placed are you happy with them (my concern is them feeling cold and not real) - and just your experience with your journey and why you made the decisions you made.

Thank you ladies, I look forward to reading your responses!

XOXO

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited March 2015

    Hi Sharnurs-

    We want to first welcome you to our community here at BCO. We're so sorry for what brings you here, but we're very glad you've joined us, and hope you find it to be a place of support and encouragement.

    You're clearly going through a lot, and we admire your strength in dealing with your diagnosis while going through a difficult pregnancy. Regarding your questions about the surgery and reconstruction, we recommend reading through our surgery and reconstruction forums. Many of our members are very open about sharing their stories, including why they made the decisions they did, and how they went about the reconstruction process. You can find our surgery forum here: https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/91, and our reconstruction forum here: https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/44.

    Please keep us updated on how you're doing, and keep posting in the forums. We'll be thinking of you!

    The Mods

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  • Ariom
    Ariom Member Posts: 6,197
    edited March 2015

    Hello sharnurs, I am so sorry you find yourself here, having to cope with all this and having to make these tough decisions when you should be focusing on your 1st pregnancy.

    I am so sorry to hear you lost your Mother, that must have been terrible for you, especially now when you are pregnant with 2 precious babies.

    I haven't had any experience with being pregnant or having reconstruction after being Dx with DCIS, but there are women here who have, and they will come to you to share their experiences with you. It is quiet here at the moment, but be sure there will be women who will come to support you when they see this post.

    There is a great deal of information on this site about DCIS should you want to familiarize yourself with that too.

    I just want to wish you all the very best and hope you find that you won't have to make the decision to have the BMX. It sounds like you have a team who can guide you through the options.

    Let us know how you get on. Hugs to you!

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  • keepingfaithduringthestorm
    keepingfaithduringthestorm Member Posts: 5
    edited March 2015

    Thank you so much ladies. Ariom, what made you make your decision to not have the other breast taken off if you don't mind me asking? I have done it ton of research it's all I do while on bed rest and have read lumpectomy vs mastectomy. I just want to hear your personal stories of your journey and why you made the decisions you made:)

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  • nmh35
    nmh35 Member Posts: 96
    edited March 2015

    I'm sorry that you have found yourself here. I'm 35 and have a 3 and 5 year old. I was diagnosed with DCIS in December. I was originally diagnosed with one area and like you, I said the BRCA would make the decision for me. It ended up coming back negative. But an MRI biopsy ended up showing yet another area of DCIS, so the mastectomy decision was made for me. I decided to do bilateral, because I wanted symmetry, but my main reason was that couldn't go through the stress every 6 months of scans and biopsies wondering if I'm going to get cancer on the other side. I had my surgery 2 weeks ago and I have no regrets. I can't speak to yhe implants because I had DIEP reconstruction.

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  • keepingfaithduringthestorm
    keepingfaithduringthestorm Member Posts: 5
    edited March 2015

    Thank you nmh35 for your response, I too have thought about that surgery but the length and hospital stay scare me. How long was your surgery and how long in hospital? I haven't seen the re constructive surgeon yet I have apt this week. I'm worried he will say I don't have enough fat tissue in my abdomen which is why I am mentally preparing for implants.

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  • nmh35
    nmh35 Member Posts: 96
    edited March 2015

    My surgery was 7 1/2 hours, but I have heard a range from people of usually 6-15 hours. I was in hospital for 4 days/3 nights. Surgery on Friday, home on Monday. I will say though that you really need a skilled microsurgeon for DIEP. I was told by a doctor that does DIEP but he prefers implants that I did not have enough stomach tissue to even make one Breast. Well I left him and went to a skilled microsurgeon and he was able to give me not 1, but 2 small C breasts.

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  • keepingfaithduringthestorm
    keepingfaithduringthestorm Member Posts: 5
    edited March 2015

    Were they able to use the tissue from your abdomen?

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  • nmh35
    nmh35 Member Posts: 96
    edited March 2015

    yes he did the DIEP with my abdomen tissue.

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  • keepingfaithduringthestorm
    keepingfaithduringthestorm Member Posts: 5
    edited March 2015

    That's great! :)

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