Confused and afraid

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JACTsMom
JACTsMom Member Posts: 55
edited April 2016 in Surgery - Before, During, and After

I've been avoiding dealing with this but it's come to a head - I must decide on treatment and I honestly just don't know what to do. I posted in the DCIS forum and that was helpful and I've been reading so many others stories here for the past hour. My medical oncologist basically said I have a 25% chance of reoccurrence. It's been over 2 months since my LX and I need to get going on treatment. Yesterday I thought ok I'll just have a BMX w immediate reconstruction then today I read so much about PMPS and thought what am I thinking no way - I'll just take the tamoxifen and rads or the tamoxifen only. But I am afraid of the med side effects and don't want to get mammos/MRIs and worry forever. Ughhh. Has anyone had a BMX for "just" DCIS? Regrets?

Thank you for your time.

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Comments

  • reflect
    reflect Member Posts: 576
    edited April 2016

    Hi JACTsMom,

    We were dx around the same time, I remember you! The research I've seen all shows lx with rads actually has better outcomes than mx in most cases. (sadly not mine). I was originally thinking BMX (cut off that cancer!) but there are risks with that too, and if it doesn't improve outcome, why do that? It's all about the systemic treatments, rads in your case.

    Is the 25% chance of recurrence without rads? It sounds high if it includes doing the rads. What is your MO recommending?

    Wishing you the best.

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  • RLM
    RLM Member Posts: 22
    edited April 2016

    JACTsmom,

    I had lx in jan 2016. I was low grade dcis less than cm. I did savi brachytherapy rads and no hormone theropy. I'm post menopausal and can take raloxifene if I choose, but mo says I'm low risk. I am having diagnostic mammos, mri, and the likes. My breast surgeon said mx/BMX is not normally recommended for low grade dcis. I don't have much to offer for advise, but to say our dx are very close and all the doctors keep telling me I'm in a great place. Hang in there, and love and prayers are being sent you way.

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  • JACTsMom
    JACTsMom Member Posts: 55
    edited April 2016

    Yes the 25% is without any treatment. My MO recommends tamoxifen and rads but is ok if I decided on BMX.

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  • BethL
    BethL Member Posts: 286
    edited April 2016

    Have you had genetic testing? That may help you decide. It isalways hard. Took me 3 months to decide on a mx, then had genetic redone. Was tested for brca 10 years ago and negative. This time tested for more and came back positive for chek2. If I had known that 10 years ago, I would have opted for bmx then. Take your time, make the decision that's right for you

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  • Kawigirl1260
    Kawigirl1260 Member Posts: 60
    edited April 2016

    I have DCIS/IDC.ER+/PR+/HER2-. 1 cm tumor was removed 1/7/16 along with 4 lymph nodes. Margins on the tumor were clear, as were the nodes, but the DCIS was widespread. I have no history of bc in the family. My team of MO, BS, and RO as well as my PCP said that my best chances for the best prognosis (98% non-recurrence) was a single mx and hormone therapy since I'm post-menopausal. I asked about a bmx and all said that they wouldn't recommend it. Said that the risks of the surgery outweighed the potential benefits. So, I'll have a smx with no reconstruction on 6/2. No chemo and no rads recommended. I, too, was told/have read that lx + rads is as effective as mx.

    I started anastrozole on 2/12. So far, so good with that. Only side effects so far are a few more hot flashes and some muscle/joint pains from time to time. Sadly, the vaginal atrophy has returned, so I'm working on remedies for that.

    Good luck with your procedures, whatever you choose!

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