Coming up on a year post DCIS dx

I am only new, just diagnosed a month ago and waiting for surgery. Just wanted to let you know that someone's out here listening to you. I can't tell you how much it helps me to hear all these different thoughts and feelings from women at different parts of the process.

Kkubsky , you and I are in a similar situation, my 12 month check is coming up in 4 weeks. I completely understand everything you wrote. I do feel nervous too and worried about it coming back, I too, look at other people and think they seem to be taking things in their stride, but are they? Maybe they are thinking the same as us? I must admit I do not think about it as much as I did at the start but now with the check up coming close it is back there formost on my brain. I think we need to control this and not let it control us, as they say things could be a lot worse and we need to get on with living.

I never heard about DCIS until I was diagnosed with it. I went for a routine mamo and I got a call back, a biopsy and then a lumpectomy a week later. A rolercoaster is exactly how it was for me too. I had a Grade 3 .6 of a cm a lot smaller than yours and no rads, the radiologist said that in her opinion I didn't need it as I had clear margins and dcis is being over treated. I was ok with what she said at the time, but as time went on I started to feel more nervous about that decision as I think having the rads would have given me comfort thinking we done all we could at the time.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts a year down the line. I am with you all the way in the next stage and hopefully we will be told go home we are fine. Please keep in touch as I will be thinking of you and would love to hear how your check up went. Take care of yourself and stay strong and looking forward to talking with you again soon.

Tadykins

At only a year out you are still very early in the process. I remember feeling much like you until about the 3 year mark (it was 4 years in November). Then, at some point, I realized I was no longer thinking about it constantly, no longer “sure” it was coming back, etc.

Do I still get some anxiety? Sure - I have a mammogram coming up in a couple weeks and that always triggers it, but it is much, much better than it was 3 years ago when I was in your position.

I was just diagnosed with DCIS will be having surgery on 1/25 a lumpectomy, the surgeon wants a mastectomy, but I just can't go there at this time. and no radiation for me, another suggestion from the surgeon. I guess I am somewhat nervous. I just want to get back to normal again, I work as an RN intensive care. Hopefully back to work 2 weeks later.

I just got my letter from the imagining center at lunch time. Still have scanxiety, but the letter said absolutely no findings (and they're using a 3D now). Yay! It can still happen, even after all these years. It just seems to be quicker to pass once I get the "all clear". Good luck ladies

Congratulations!

I had my annual mammogram yesterday. It’s the first time since being diagnosed that I’ve gone back to a screening (vs diagnostic) one. I’m assuming that since I didn’t hear back from them that I need to come back, all is well, but it is disconcerting not to get while you wait results anymore.

Kkubsky, we have very similar dx and timing. I have my first mammo next Tuesday 1/31 since my surgery and rads. I had gotten to a point where I was not thinking about it too much but of course, now nervous and anxious once again. It will be another 3D. I wonder if it is routine to have your tests read the same day if previously diagnosed? I just don't want to think about going home and waiting again for results. I hope I am totally surprised and don't have to have any second imaging but my history is such that I almost always have been called back. Cystic, high density, biopsy for fibroaedenoma in 2009 and finally DCIS in 2016. I also worry because of being hormone negative with comedonecrosis and grade 3. I need to think more positively. Just can't wait until it is over. I have plans to go to Hawaii in April but will not buy my airfare until I get an all clear. I was in a FaceBook group for DCIS until September. I was addicted to reading it every day. SInce I dropped out I have been less anxious and it def helped me not to think about it all the time.

Lindabirrd - I was under the impression that the clips had been removed during my lumpectomy as well, but at my mammogram 2 weeks ago the tech mentioned something about 5 clips. I didn’t ask (and forgot when I saw the surgeon today) but maybe they put new ones in to mark the area of the lumpectomy? I have no idea, and this tech was the first person to mention them at all!

The good news is today I had my first "regularly scheduled" mammogram since this all started in Sept 2015...and I was given the all clear on my remaining R breast! When initially diagnosed, I had so many tests between Sept 2015 and Jan 2016, my MO wanted me to wait a year before another radiology test to that is why it is now...While I posted this on another board, I started Arimidex ahead of the L-MX...and the pathology at MX was that the DCIS area had shrunk...given the clear mammogram makes up for a lot of the aches and pains of the Arimidex side effects!

I had my first post treatment mammogram in September 2016 and I was very anxious. It was normal but the radiologist said due to scarring from surgery and radiation, he wanted me to have another one next month. After my mammogram I was called into a private room and I assumed the worst - kind of like when my Dad died and the doctor had to tell me the news! I do think about the breast cancer a lot especially since I have side effects from hormone therapy - Aromasin. I feel much stronger mentally if not physically. I love my medical oncologist and he is great in answering my numerous questions.