Still Unsure on what surgery type to do...

I think your best option is to do the lumpectomy as it is the least invasive and you would not need a plastic surgeon. If you are concerned about how your breast will look after a lumpectomy then look into an oncoplastic surgeon. That person specializes in breast cancer, but in surgically removing it to give you the best looking result .

After your lumpectomy, you would have to undergo radiation treatment.

With a mastectomy, most of the time, you would not be required to do radiation treatment.

There are no guarantees that a lumpectomy will remove all the cancer cells, and you may have to under more surgery in the future. But many women like this option because it is the least invasive and they get to keep their own breast.

There is no guarantee that a double mastectomy will get rid of all the cancer as well. Quite frankly, there are many women that got a double mastectomy on the belief that they will not get breast cancer because all of their breast tissues has been removed. But they have a recurrence in the chest area or it metastasize elsewhere in the body.

In fact, after any surgery, within the first 3 years, there is a very high likely chance of some kind of recurrence. That is why if you do a mastectomy, I would waiting to have plastic surgery for after 3 years at least.

BTW, a month after my biopsy, my nipple started getting some bloody discharge and pain in my breast that was not there to begin with. So, whatever you do, it the cancer removed ASAP. Just my two cents.

Bless you and hoped I was of some help.

We know how hard it is. But, cutting off your breasts doesn't decrease your chance of the cancer recurring (you may still have a new primary, but that is different).

If you are reading this board like a novel (like I did when I was first diagnosed), you will see a lot of postings from women who have had new primaries/recurrences. Remember that these are rare. The women who post here are often those who experience special problems or issues. Your chances as a stage I with no lymph node involvement that a lumpectomy or mastectomy alone, with no other treatment, will remove the cancer is 80%. Everything else that is recommended builds on that first 80% (10% for rads, 1-5% for chemo, same for tamox).
The only difference is, I was back to work in 2 days after my lumpectomy. The women I knew who had to have a mastectomy were home for 4-6 weeks, and then went thru extensive reconstruction. About 40% of all reconstructions fail in some way, and many require replacements or redos.
I know one woman who is on her 5th year of trying to get her body healed from recon (don't ask).
I would try the lumpectomy, and give yourself 6 months to 1 year to get used to the idea that you are probably going to be fine (it took me about 5 yrs to believe it, but I do now)

Hi all.

I was just diagnosed with DCIS, Stage 0, Nuclear Grade 3.  I am meeting with the Radiation Oncologist tomorrow and the surgeon on Monday to set up my surgery.  He is recommending a Lumpectomy w/Radiation.  Everything is happening so fast and I'm confused and unsure if I want and/or need the surgery at all.  DCIS seems quite confusing from the research I have found.... then again, it seems like its a no-brainer.  Did anyone here have 2nd thoughts on treatment?  How long did it take any of you to make a decision? 

Thanks

Maggie you need surgery. DCIS is simply the precursor to Stage 1.

I asked my surgeon what she would do: lumpectomy or mastectomy and she said lumpectomy is the best choice if you have a choice. Some women have no choice at all.

Christine