Sis w/ BC dx DAYS w/in my LX; MX doesn't seem so crazy now.

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MizMimi
MizMimi Member Posts: 98
edited October 2016 in DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ)

I amback after reading the new report from JAMA on DCIS and mortality. If you remember I struggled with the decision on whether to do LX OR MX. In reading this report, it says some women die from DCIS, although it is rare, but it happens and that radiation reduced local recurrence but not overall 20 year mortality rate.

I just found out my sister might have breast cancer. She is 5 years older than me and discovered a swollen lymph node... The radiologist called her to say that he saw two types of mammary cancer in her two nodes that were biopsied. With me testing negative on a broad genetic panel, but my mom and maternal grandmother having BC, and now sister...we have a stronger family hx than I thought!

I am considering going back for a double MX as was my original plan. All my doctors thought I was having an emotional reaction to DCIS. But I was looking at my strong history and my age plus wanting peace of mind for the long term---- that is why I chose that route.

I am going to wait until I have more info about my sister before I decide to cancel radiotherapy and go back in for surgery.

I welcome anyone's opinions. I will be posting this at the lumpectomy lounge, too.

http://oncology.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=2427491

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  • CAMommy
    CAMommy Member Posts: 437
    edited August 2015

    I'm sorry about your sister. :(.

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  • proudtospin
    proudtospin Member Posts: 5,972
    edited August 2015

    I am not one to think MX for DCIS but your case seems to warrant strong consideration

    note I had DCIS in 08, did the standard lumpies, rads and then the AL but I did not have any family history, note I am clear as of my most recent mamo

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  • Jenwith4kids
    Jenwith4kids Member Posts: 635
    edited August 2015

    Mizmimi - follow your gut. That's a strong history - and quite frankly nobody is safe, LOL - with just a lumpectomy your recurrence rate is the same as the general population - 1 in 8. That's too much for me. Though I may be crazy.

    My sister and I both had BC at the same time. bittersweet.

    Good luck.

    Jen

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  • Denise-G
    Denise-G Member Posts: 1,777
    edited August 2015

    I was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer almost 4 years ago, my mom was diagnosed with Stage 1 BC one year ago,

    and my sister was diagnosed with Stage 3 BC and is going through chemo now. I had an MX, my mom a Lumpectomy, my sister a Lumpectomy with many nodes. She is now undergoing genetic testing at the Univ of Michigan where we have all received treatment. If she is positive, they recommend she get the double MX - but if not, Lumpectomy is sufficient, but her decision.

    We had no family history of BC back 200 years. And suddenly, bam - all of us.


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  • VT_whitley
    VT_whitley Member Posts: 12
    edited August 2015

    I am 40 and had BMX for bilateral DCIS. I am BRCA negative but my mom had BC at age 32 and died at 46. So, family history certainly influenced my decision. I'm happy with my decision and the results. I fully understand the resistance to over treating DCIS. And articles like the NYT one today are important. But I wish they didn't always paint women who choose BMX or contra lateral mastectomy as fearful dupes who've been tricked into overly aggressive treatment. It seems that we have a hard time comprehending or accepting that some women are genuinely OK with losing their real breasts and having none or having reconstructed ones. Good luck with your decision.

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  • MizMimi
    MizMimi Member Posts: 98
    edited October 2016

    Hey everyone.. I'm late with my reply but I decided to go with lumpectomy and no rads! Total reversal I know, but I decided that the DNA test I had was convincing enough plus the negative genetic test we all have to take my chances with this conservative approach.

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