Recently diagnosed with DCIS and 6 months pregnant

Dear Mellie361, We are sorry that you are dealing with DCIS during your pregnancy. What a difficult time this must be for you to have to make so many decisions.While you are waiting for some responses here you may want to check out this topic on Diagnosed during Pregnancy. It is an older topic but you may be able to connect still with some of the posters. Keep us posted. The Mods

Hi Mellie:

Sorry to hear of your diagnosis at this time. I was 52 at diagnosis, so I don't have any good information for your special circumstances.

However, many find this post from Beesie to be very informative:

A layperson's guide to DCIS (scroll up to the top of the page to read the original/first post):

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/68/topic/...

Best wishes,

BarredOwl

Hi Mellie:

I bookmarked it too! Although scary and upsetting, DCIS is not an emergency. I would not be worried about a two-week wait, especially for such a good reason.

Did you notice these comments from Beesie about the possibility of avoiding sentinel node biopsy:

"- Checking the lymph nodes, i.e. a sentinel node biopsy, is not required for those who have pure DCIS. However women who have high grade DCIS have a reasonable risk that some invasive cancer might be found in the final pathology; because of this, sometimes an SNB will be recommended (note that it is current practice to check the nodes if any amount of invasive cancer is found). An SNB is really not necessary when someone is having an lumpectomy, because an SNB can always be done later if any invasive cancer is found, but is more important for women having a mastectomy because an SNB cannot effectively be done after a mastectomy. Current treatment guidelines suggest that women with DCIS who have a low risk that invasive cancer may be found (i.e. those who appear to have a small amount of lower grade DCIS), do not require an SNB even if they are having a mastectomy. Current treatment guidelines also do not suggest having an SNB for anyone with DCIS having a lumpectomy or on the prophylactic side for anyone with DCIS who is having a BMX."

Even though only one to a few nodes may be removed, sentinel node biopsy (SNB) presents a low risk of lymphedema. The risk is life-long. For more about lymphedema risk:

http://www.stepup-speakout.org

Because of this, some patients diagnosed with pure DCIS choose to have lumpectomy alone (without SNB) and to await the results of the surgical pathology. If invasive disease is found, then the SNB is performed in another procedure. But if no invasive disease is found, one can avoid the SNB and its associated risks entirely.

If you wish, you may want to inquire with your surgeon why SNB is being recommended in your case (a) for the DCIS breast; and (b) for the breast with the benign Adenomyoepithelioma. Ask if you can safely elect to defer and possibly avoid SNB on one or both sides (if that is of interest to you). In some cases, the location of the lumpectomy (e.g., tail of the breast) may impact lymphatic flow, so SNB would need to be done at the time of lumpectomy. If the rationale is the convenience of a single procedure, please note that with lumpectomy for DCIS at least, there is always a possibility of a second surgical procedure (re-excision), if the surgical margins are not adequate. In any case, by inquiring you may learn more about the basis for the recommendation for SNB, and make a more informed decision about what is best for you.

Keep us posted.

BarredOwl

Dear Mellie361:

I was thinking about you, and thank you very much for your update. I am glad all is okay otherwise, besides very understandable fatigue.

In her layperson's guide, Beesie explains that the incidence of having some invasive disease is somewhere around ~20% among those diagnosed with DCIS by needle biopsy, so the odds favor pure DCIS, which is good to know. She also explains that if present, the invasive disease is usually very limited/small. Still, worrying about the presence of some invasive disease was one of the hardest things for me during the wait for surgery and the pathology results.

I will keep you and the baby in my thoughts and prayers.

BarredOwl

Hi Mellie361:

Thank you for your good wishes.

I felt tremendous relief after surgery. It was the best rest I had in months, I think! (Then came another wait.)

Will be thinking of you on the 19th, and continuing to keep you both in my thoughts and prayers.

BarredOwl

Mellie, I'm so sorry that you are going through this. You have a lot to think about in this last trimester. Best wishes on Friday, and rest well over the weekend. Fingers crossed for clear margins and a good path report. I had 7cm of DCIS all throughout my left breast but no IDC was found, and hopefully your situation will be the same. Sending you the best thoughts...

(((mellie))) Just wanted to give you an extra hug and wish you well tomorrow. No one should have to worry about this crap when they are pregnant and about to deliver a baby. I am just hating on cancer big time because even though I think it should leave everyone alone, in particular it should leave young Moms like you alone and in peace. So unfair but you sound so strong and I know that you will be putting this in your rearview mirror in the future. Best of luck with everything and mostly, with your new baby! Enjoy this time as much as possible.

Hi Mellie:

Very glad to hear from you, that the operation went well, and the findings look good so far. Hope the drain cooperates, and you (and he) get to go home today.

Thinking of you,

BarredOwl

Thinking of you and sending you hugs!

thinking of you mellie!

Aw, Mellie -- I'm so sorry to hear this. It's not fair that you have this on your plate right now! Look at that pathology report later and get some snuggles tonight. Knowing your nodes are clear is a huge relief! The hit-it-hard but not too quickly sounds like a good approach. Best wishes in making all the decisions that are coming up -- that's when I found this board the most helpful. Hugs to you, Mellie!

Hi Mellie:

That news was not what I hoped for and was unexpected. The 0/4 nodes is a very good piece of news, and ER/PR positivity gives you the option of endocrine therapy. Please rest and regroup and keep us posted.

BarredOwl

Hi, Mellie -- thinking about you and hoping you are doing okay. Do you have some folks to help when baby comes and chemo starts? How old are your boys? I hope it's all coming together. Hugs to you!

Dear Mellie, you might want to call your local American Cancer Society for some help because my understanding is they have some resources that you might benefit from in terms of help around the house, rides, someone who can clean your house and maybe even babysitting. You are so strong and I am so sure that this baby is going to be born a very lucky child. Hugs and best to you and your little ones!