Ductal carcinoma mastectomy

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HelenT
HelenT Member Posts: 3
edited February 2016 in DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ)
Ductal carcinoma mastectomy
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  • HelenT
    HelenT Member Posts: 3
    edited December 2007

           I AM ABOUT READY TO HAVE A MASTECTOMY AND THIS IS ALL NEW TO ME AS I AM SURE IT IS TO  MOST ALL OF YOU.  WAS WONDERING ABOUT RECOVERY ?  OR EVERYTHING

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  • wishiwere
    wishiwere Member Posts: 3,793
    edited December 2007

    Sorry to hear about your dx and need to be here, but can you explain a little more about your situation or what you are looking for? I had a Left breast mastectomy without recon, but many on here have had the recon done immediately following. I assume you've had a biopsy?  Will they plan on axillary node removal or the sentinel node testing?

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  • HelenT
    HelenT Member Posts: 3
    edited December 2007

        I had bio and two lumpectomys with only a 0.2mm and 0.3mm and a 2mm of clear margins

    the second time they cut out a 9 by 10 cm.

    the doctor has always recommended  a mastectomy. i do plan on recon. just told dr. i would

     do it today.will be doing implants. not looking forward to any of this.  i have had two sisters with breast cancer  also guess i  am just wondering what to expect

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  • Jenniferz
    Jenniferz Member Posts: 541
    edited December 2007

    I had a mastectomy in May, 2006.  Really didn't have any problems other than an infection at the tube site.  That cleared up with some antibiotics.  Little to no pain, and what pain there was was taken care of by Tylenol. Was back to normal in about  6 weeks because of infection.  Because of size of tumor, no rads or chemo.  Am taking Femara, and so far doing well.

    You will be fine. 

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  • roseg
    roseg Member Posts: 3,133
    edited December 2007

    I don't want to minimize having a mastectomy for DCIS at all. It sounds like you might have ductal carninoma - which is an invasive cancer. Sometimes you can have to have chemo after that. Were your nodes clear?

    For me the recovery wasn't bad. I had an expander placed and that was responsible for most of my soreness.

    I couldn't twist around to look behind me for about a month, which made driving challenging. I guess that's what the side/rear mirrors are for.

    I was off of work about a month, but was feeling much better after two weeks. It's kind of depressing, but physically I got better fairly soon.

    Try to have the expander placed at the same time as the mastectomy. Then you can get filled fairly soon. That makes wearing clothes a little easier. 

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  • Jordymom
    Jordymom Member Posts: 114
    edited December 2007

    HelenT,

    Just curious (and you don't have to share this information) but what were the size(s) of your DCIS lesions?  What were the nuclear grades?  Any necrosis on the path report?  Is the DCIS multifocal or multicentric?

    I too have have biopsy and seperate wide excision (last one was 6 x 6 x 3 cm of excised tissue) with no clear margins.  Also, recently found I have DCIS bilaterally (with no clear margins on the newly discovered side).

    You are not alone facing possible mastectomy decision for DCIS.

    Take care.

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  • Sociologist
    Sociologist Member Posts: 237
    edited December 2007

    Hi Helen,

    I was diagnosed with DCIS June 14th; it was in 2 different quadrants in the left breast. After some soul searching and discussions with my family, the docs, and others I know with bc, I opted for the mastectomy. I have many drug allergies and both the surgeon and I were afraid I wouldn't be able to tolerate the chemo. My very, very fair skin may not have survived the rads either. I suppose I felt like I just wanted to get it over and out of my body. A friend of mine had to go back in twice before they got clean margins and I didn't want to deal with that. I had a skin sparing mast on July 12 and an expander placed in the breast; had fills every other week from the end of August until October and had my exchange surgery Dec 18. One of the cancers was grade 2 and the other a 3. I was ER and PR positive. I also had a sentinal node biposy at the time of the mast. The first 3 nods tested positive so the removed 3 more which were all negative. Further testing on the initial nodes revealed a false positive (thank goodness!).

    The important thing to remember is you have to do what is best for you and your situation. It helps to have support people in place...family and friends can be a huge help in accompanying you on this journey. The ladies on this site really saved my life some days after the surgery and throughout the expansion process (I didn't find the site until after the mast and most of my posts are in the reconstruction: tissue expander pain area).

    Take a deep breath and relax. You will be bombarded with so much information it may feel like you're head's going to explode. It helps if you have someone go to the dr. appts. with you to write down all of the information they tell you. My husband went to every visit with me and it made going through this so much easier. For a month after my diagnosis it seemed like every time someone would start taking about breat  cancer I'd zone out and hear "blah-blah-blah" because it just takes time for everything to sink in.

    You have found a great support system here on this site. Don't be afraid to use it. We have all been where you are and truly understand what you're feeling. Please pm me if you need anything. Take care of yourself and keep us posted on your progress.

    Margaret

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  • kad
    kad Member Posts: 29
    edited December 2007

    Hello all,

    My dx is very new and I am in search for a surgeon/Oncologist/Plastic surgeon... I'm in Michigan.. I was told I would need all of these.. I haven't the paper work in front of me, so to tell you that I have choices, for now it doesn't seem like it from what I have heard from my doctors.. I will have them send me the actual paper work.. I know I have mult-DCIS.. I have been watched for three years with nothing active.. My last mammo.. Spread and worry and biopsy show clearly of need of removal I was told.. I am still very bruised and a very large lump that is painful.. I had a golf size ball removal of the area with the biopsy and they still are telling me there is much more there to remove.. Worried.. kad

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  • Gomathy_Gopinath
    Gomathy_Gopinath Member Posts: 4
    edited December 2007

    I had a DCIS grade 1 (just about 2 cm and no lymph node invasion)and went in for mastectomy in 2004. Though the surgeon advised lumpectomy the family and I opted for mastectomy for two reasons. I was against radiation therapy and already 63 plus my daughter was getting married in two weeks time. I had no problem postoperatviely and had no time to mop around. I was on tamoxifen for over 42 weeks and now on femara. I could overcome side effects (hot flashes mainly) by sheer will power I guess. Femara I started 4 days back. I have this bitter taste in my mouth. Has anyone else experienced or experiencing it. I would be thankful if I get a feed back.

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  • Jordymom
    Jordymom Member Posts: 114
    edited December 2007

    Gomathy,

    Were you on Tamoxifen/Femara just for protection of the remaining breast?  I'm not sure why hormone blockers would be given when the affected breast is gone?

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  • JustTurnedForty
    JustTurnedForty Member Posts: 289
    edited January 2008

    Kad,

    Hi neighbor!  I had skin & nipple sparing BM with lat flap & tissue expanders in June 2007, and my exchange surgery in October.  My breast surgeon was Marianne Lange & my plastic surgeon was Dennis Hammond, both in Grand Rapids.  I believe they are the best in our area.  My results are awesome.  Good luck to you!

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  • movin
    movin Member Posts: 28
    edited January 2008
    I had a mastectomy for dcis almost 4 years out now and never had reconstruction.  I have not checked in here for a couple years but life is better than ever and I am glad to be available to answer anyquestions you have.  You can email me at ralphie3999@embarqmail.com. 
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  • nwsailor
    nwsailor Member Posts: 14
    edited January 2008

    Hi there,

    I have just had a bilateral mastectomy 12/26/08 for DCIS, please see my comments under Moving on in 2008, a new thread, good luck to you!

    ps-For me, it was the best choice I could have made and am already pleased with the results!

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  • kad
    kad Member Posts: 29
    edited January 2008

    Happy New Year JustTurnedForty,

    I have written down Marianne Lange and Dennis Hammond.  Where are they located in GR?  I am going to Lacks Cancer Center at St. Mary's.. I talked to a surgeon yesterday and said his recommendation was surgery.. It would be a Lumpectomy with a 2cm clearence.. He said, I would have a scar and indentation and my nipple would sink in, I haven't seen any before and after pictures yet.. I want know if you think this is reason to have a pastic surgeon there on my team?  I told him I didn't want to be disformed by this procedure.. He hasn't really give me much more.. I have a appointment with a team on Thurs., but no pastic surgeon as I know.. I liked the surgeon, but he is also talking radiation, but I have said no.. He also talked about therapy of reverse hormones.. I said no to that too.. My personality and moods would put I think people in danger of my jumping out of control.. Anyhow I would like  to know where your team is located so to make a better choice.. You sound very happy with your results.. Could you explain that a bit more?  I am trying to make the best decison for me.. Thank you so much for the names and for anymore help you can send my way.. kad

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  • JustTurnedForty
    JustTurnedForty Member Posts: 289
    edited January 2008

    Kad, my drs. are located right off I-96 at Cascade Road, & they are on East Paris.  Can you e-mail me with your diagnosis, & then we can talk further.  j9_freeman@hotmail.com

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  • Sharon67
    Sharon67 Member Posts: 154
    edited January 2008

    Kad, I live in East Tawas, Michigan but went to Beaumont,

    Royal Oak for tests. In Sept. was Dx with DCIS in left grade 2-3 and lots of micro's in right. Had a double Mast. October 16th with recon. I had wonderful Dr. and they have a full Cancer center with every kind of doctor you will need that specialize in just breast cancers. If you would like more info email me at SunLake@aol.com.

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  • skatoterp
    skatoterp Member Posts: 3
    edited January 2008
    Suspected left breast Pagets 11/17, positive results 12/03, Mast/recons w/2 lymph nodes removed 12/21. 2 drains to be removed tmw w/reconstruction to continue over next few months. Hope to have LN results tmw/Fri, but dependent on Holiday! My 3 drs (and I) are very positive that I will only need Tomoxifen; no chemo/radiation.

      I have been very lucky, all 3 docs (family, general surgeon, plastic surgeon) have been upfront w/me from day one, often answered my list of ???s before I cd ask, and have been so very supportive. My family phs called me every day after 11/17 to "chat" w/me, gave me her home ph# in case I needed to talk, & her cell phone when she went to Hawaii for 5 days! Also left a message from Hawaii that she was thinking of me!! Although not wanting it, I went into surgery very positive. Waiting for DX, I researched everything I could, and did feel Mast was the right choice.

      You'rr right about Pagets - very little info, contacts - & everyone I talked to had never heard of it. Had all kinds of people researching it!! My doc suspected it the minute she looked @ my nipple. The reason for the mastec was calcifications thru/out the milk ducts.

      I got info today about "Aromatase Inhibitors Better than Tamoxifen Ager Surgery for Early-Stage BC", so will talk w/them about it. I've talked w/several BC survivors who have been very positive about Tamox, but if anyone has info/ideas I'd love to hear.

      Most of the time I'm "UP", but am trying to accept the grief stages I go thru various times. I've not yet really looked at my reconstruction, but I opened the 'bra' a little the other day to clean up a little. I saw just a little of the area and really lost it. My hubby was there helping me, and hugged me for the longest time til I felt better. I'm sure that tmw when the drains are removed, I'll get  a full view and am really scared & the tho't of it makes me shake all over. I have lots of 'self talk': Hah, you've been cast out damn spot; it could be worse; blah, blah.

      I'm scared, worried, concerned about the reconstruction over the next few months & will should feel a little better w/results from lymph nodes. I do have lots of family/friend/coworker support. This is my first time in a chat room, but th't it might help me get thru this & hopefully I can be of help to all you.

      My son gave me a pink hat for Christmas & told me "when you feel down, put this on to remember you're a cancer survivor". Little things like that help me smile.

    I posted the above 12/26 & it may have only gone to people asking 'bout Pagets/Nipple Disease; only had one response. I'm totally new to this type of network.

    I've been told from day one, I may have cancer (Pagets/DCIS), and am very angered as many are about "this is not cancer" & will fight to have this idea changed. If it's NOT C then why did I have to lose my breast? Should I have waited until it can be quantified as "C"? Yes, I may be among the lucky ones according to breast cancer.org: "cancer cells that haven't learned how to break through normal tissue barriers...threaten to cause a problem...showing a lot of attitude...haven't yet done anything that's truly dangerous'. (breastcancer.org/How the Tumor Characterictics of DCIS Affect Treatment Options). Although the Oncologist is having my path report redone @ Cleveland Clinic Main Pathology 'cuz it was unclear from the Hillcrest report, he is optomistic that no further treatment may be required - YEAH!! - LNs clear, Margins clear & DCIS is noninvasive. Will have new path results the middle of next week.

    Helen T     3wks ago tmw, I had the MastectomyRecons, my 2nd drain removed yesterday (this has been my biggest pain). Since the drain removal, I've felt better, been off Vicoden, using Motrin - I really feel quite well, have worked on/off since Jan 2 depending on doc appts/lack of sleep (drain)/stress @ home. JCPenney has a Support Bra Underscore that is like heaven after the hospital "corset".

    My thoughts & prayers are with all of you..................................................Susan

     
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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited January 2008

    Hi KAD, I understand how you feel, I'm in the same boat. My surgeon is also telling me a golf ball size, I'm very small breasted so I don't know. Still gathering my info to help me make a final decision. My outcome sounds the same as yours. Keep your chin up. I'll be thinking of you. I'm scared too.So sorry your going thru this.Take care and keep in touch.

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  • Anna2012
    Anna2012 Member Posts: 4
    edited March 2016

    Has anyone had a nipple sparing mastectomy with Dr. Marianne Melnik?

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  • BayouBabe
    BayouBabe Member Posts: 2,221
    edited February 2016

    Anna - not sure how familiar you are with the workings of the website yet. I just sent you a personal message in response to yours

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