DCIS and surgery ? Mastectomy

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bowd65
bowd65 Member Posts: 5
edited May 2016 in Surgery - Before, During, and After

Hi my name is Debbie and i have only just recently after my first mammogram been diagnosed with DCIS and another area biopsied has pre-cancer cells. They also found another area which came back as normal cells. Obviously this was a relief as they had mentioned if this area was cancerous I would probably be looking at a mastectomy. So these other two areas I will be having them removed possibly around the beginning to mid June. I had a meeting with the breast care nurse yesterday and was told all about the surgery from before having guide wires put in and how they do it. To the surgery and after care and possibly radiotherapy 2-3 weeks Monday to Friday and I would have to stay on site as the hospital treatment is not near me. So this would mean time away from the family. Although I can go home at weekends. But before the radiotherapy etc, if the results of the areas removed turn out to be invasive, I might still need to consider a mastectomy.

So last night I hardly slept as I was thinking about all the biopsies I have had, this impending surgery, with guide wires the morning before. Then I may have to go in and have more removed if the cells are outside of the margins Then once healed after so many weeks possibly radiotherapy, which can leave you very sore, extremely tired etc. I also will need to be monitored regularly as I am now at risk of further cancer cells. What I am trying to say is I had the choice of having a mastectomy with breast reconstruction, but thought no i don't want to be hasty and save the breast. Now I am wondering should I have a mastectomy so that I don't have to keep worrying about it all!

I have a good supportive husband family, but I still feel so mixed up about all of this.

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  • Mom2Winston
    Mom2Winston Member Posts: 12
    edited May 2016

    Hello, I just had a double mastectomy 3 weeks ago for DCIS. For me, since I had small breasts and the tumor was pretty big, I elected to do the mastectomy with immediate implant placement reconstruction. My mom had DCIS and she did the lumpectomy followed by radiation and hormone therapy. I may be too soon out of my surgery, but having implants in has not been a fun ride. The pain is not unbearable, I am only taking a couple of advils a day, but there is a lot of chest tightness and no matter how good your plastic surgeon is, the implants just don't feel and look like your natural boobs. And there could be further surgeries down the road. If I had bigger breasts, and no thyroid nodules( so wanted to avoid radiation so they don't turn cancerous) , I would have probably elected to do a lumpectomy instead. Recovery wold be much faster and you don't have to deal with implants and the problems that go with them. Of course, you could choose not to do implants after a mastectomy as well.

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  • dtad
    dtad Member Posts: 2,323
    edited May 2016

    Hi there. I would think long and hard about having your breasts removed. Its not an easy surgery both mentally and physically. I had a BMX with direct to implant reconstruction. There were many reasons I chose to go this route. The most important being that Im difficult to screen due to having very dense breasts. I'm happy with my decision but....I will always miss my natural breasts. I hope this helps. Good luck....

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  • Ingerp
    Ingerp Member Posts: 2,624
    edited May 2016

    I chose a partial. It was a large area but once the MRI came back showing nothing in the other breast and only one area, it was an easy decision for me. I don't have a strong history of cancer in my family--that was a contributing factor for my decision. If you want to learn more about the radiation, there are many threads on the discussion boards, including the "Spring 2016" one, which I'm part of--I have my first treatment today! (FWIW--I also had the wires put in for my first surgery, I believe due to the large area. I had one close margin after the first surgery so had a second to clean that up. Really not the end of the world except for the delay in getting this all behind me. :-) And I'm sure it's standard to get the "we might find something worse" with any surgery.)

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  • bowd65
    bowd65 Member Posts: 5
    edited May 2016

    Thank you all for replying, Some of you ladies have been through such a lot!

    I had my Pre-op assessment yesterday afternoon and I am still going through with just having the pre cancer and DCIS areas removed. The consultant informed me that once the results are back after two weeks, will determine whether I will need further treatment or not. He advised to take each step as it comes, but stay positive. He answered all of my questions and I did feel more positive by the time I left for home. I am fit for surgery and they asked if I would be available to go at short notice. So hopefully I may go in for the surgery quite soon.

    Thanks again

    Debbie

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  • sandcastle
    sandcastle Member Posts: 587
    edited May 2016

    I, think part of the problem is the hospital is not near you....Is it possible, to see if you can get a Doctor and Hospital close to home?  That is part of the battle in making you feel at ease.....Liz

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  • bowd65
    bowd65 Member Posts: 5
    edited May 2016

    Unfortunately Liz, we live in a rural area and the local hospital is not as good at delivering specialist services.

    All the breast screening is done initially in the mobile vans and then the follow ups are 58 miles away in the larger city. I could have opted to stay with the local hospital, but I wouldn't have been seen as quick and I don't think the care would be as good.

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  • sandcastle
    sandcastle Member Posts: 587
    edited May 2016

    I, Understand....Liz

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