Just diagnosed with DCIS 3 weeks ago

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Nov1
Nov1 Member Posts: 8
edited December 2017 in Diagnosed and Waiting for Test Results

Hi all,

I hope everyone had a fair thanksgiving day. I am 37 years old. I have three beautiful daughters, 5, 4 and 2. Three weeks ago, on my daughter's 4th birthday by the end of the day i discovered a lump on my right breast. I freaked out since i am a nursing student and during that week, all of our assignments were related with breast cancer....... I made appointment on the following day and got checked by my PCP. My doctor was not alarmed like me but ordered mammogram and ultrasound. On the mammogram, it showed a dense tissue so for that reason ultrasound was done. The radiologist said it worth it to do biopsy. Then on Nov 13th, biopsy confirmed i have DCIS,

Right breast, 10 o'clock, core biopsies:
Ductal carcinoma in situ with the following features:
Architectural pattern: Solid (cancerization of lobules).
Nuclear grade: Intermediate.
Necrosis: Absent.
Associated calcification: Absent.
Invasive carcinoma: Not identified.
Additional findings: DCIS appears to involve portion of a fibroadenoma. It also said 100% Estrogen positive and 40% progestron positive.

I haven't sleep the last three weeks. From the time i found the lump to this day i have been emotionally drained. I have been doing lots of praying. Friday i was advised to do the gene test since i got the cancer at a "young" age. I have no family history of any kind of cancer. I got the genetic counseling and gave blood for the test. I was told it could take 2-3 weeks to get the result. Last Wednesday, i had MRI and anxiously waiting for the result. I joined this support group and have been reading the postings and sounds like MRI could find more cancer, which is scaring me more...... I have appointment to meet with my surgeon to talk about treatment option and was told by then the MRI result will be ready. I am scared to death, no appetite, no interest for anything. I feel like my life turned upside down. I am feeling hopeless and please i need your help in reassuring me and saying "its going to be OK" . I work with patients wit dementia and i am a good listener. I have given my shoulder to many families to cry and lean on me. I have been supporting the patients and families even during a though time. I have never felt helpless like how i am feeling right now. My family is very supportive during each and every step of this new journey. But i feel like i wanted to hear from a person who is in my journey. Please pray for me things will go well. I will keep you post.

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  • Sourisou
    Sourisou Member Posts: 41
    edited November 2017

    Hi Nov1,

    I'm so sorry that you find yourself joining this awful club :(

    Waiting for final pathology is truly the worst - you can't help your mind racing to the worst possible scenario. I'm in the same boat - DCIS, grade 2, found 2 months ago. I had a mastectomy 3 weeks ago (don't worry, I'm a peculiar case who can't have radiation so you might not need the same treatment as me) and I'm feeling very good right now. If it can help, try to concentrate on what is positive in those circumstances - so far, it's DCIS without signs of invasion, the earliest stage you could have. It's intermediate stage, there is no necrosis and it's Er+, which means you might have access to more treatments to keep it at bay. It's very good you're having an MRI as you will have the clearest picture possible and know the best treatment available to you. What also helped me a lot (and still does, since I don't have my final pathology yet) is to just let go. What is there is there, nothing can change that, but we're being taken care of, we are pro-active. And I really believe we will be okay.

    I'm sending you some gentle hugs and lots of love in this hard time. Let us know how things goes and join us on the DCIS board. There are tons of great, informative threads. I would suggest you read the "Layperson's guide to DCIS": https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/68/topics/790992?page=8#idx_232 To have more infos really helped me to calm down when I felt lost.

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  • Georgia1
    Georgia1 Member Posts: 1,321
    edited November 2017

    I'm so sorry, but I can also truly, honestly, say that it will be ok. As others have suggested, try to focus on the good: it's non-invasive, ER+, plus the MRI will really help your surgeon plan effectively. My own MRI found a very small (.3 centimeter) tumor next to the first one, but that turned out to be a good thing! My surgeon got it out along with the primary tumor in a simple and successful lumpectomy. So maybe think of the MRI results as just another source of the information you need to get healthy faster.

    Til then, forcing yourself to take walks and eat healthy will help you feel a bit better. We are sending good thoughts your way!

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  • Nov1
    Nov1 Member Posts: 8
    edited November 2017

    thank u so much for the kind and encouraging words.

    I am greatful u r ok as well. I will keep u post when i recive my results.

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  • Luckynumber47
    Luckynumber47 Member Posts: 397
    edited November 2017

    Sending you hugs, Nov1. We all know what a tough time this is for you. I feel like the radiologist should hand us a prescription for anti anxiety meds the same time we're referred for biopsy.

    My diagnosis was a little worse than yours - I was diagnosed with IDC in the left breast and then the MRI found DCIS in the other. At my first meeting with my breast surgeon she walked through the door saying: "You will be fine. This is just a bump in the road, a minor inconvience. You will be fine." At the end of the appointment she repeated "You will be fine".

    I clung to those words. It was the first positive thing I had heard after weeks of mentally torturing myself with every possible fear of what this cancer might bring. But you know what? She was right! I am fine and you will be too!

    Hold onto that. The treatments won't be as bad as you imagine and in a very short period of time this will be behind you and you'll be moving on with your life.

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  • mustlovepoodles
    mustlovepoodles Member Posts: 2,825
    edited November 2017

    I'll second Luckynumber's advice: you're gonna be okay. There are a lot of treatments for you. DCIS is a stage 0 non-invasive cancer. DCIS is usually treated with lumpectomy plus radiation, or sometimes mastectomy, if the tumor is very large (several cms.) Pure DCIS is never treated with chemo. Your tumor is hormone responsive and you are pre-menopausal, so you will probably be advised to take Tamoxifen for 5-10 years.

    Take some deep breaths now. Hearing the words "breast cancer" sends most of us reeling. I've been a nurse for 40 years and I can attest that having a little knowledge doesn't make it any easier. But BC is generally a slow-moving disease. You don't need to be in a rush to make decisions or have surgery. As my oncologist said to me, "This is early stage. You're not gonna die. This next year is gonna suck, but you're gonna be okay." And she was right.

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  • Nov1
    Nov1 Member Posts: 8
    edited November 2017

    thank u all for all the encourgment. U have no idea how much i appricate u all. Ur strength inspires me. I feel like there is someone who can understand my fear, anxiety and everything. God bless u. I will.keep u post after i meet with my sergon tomorrow

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  • Nov1
    Nov1 Member Posts: 8
    edited November 2017

    hi all

    Today i met with my surgon. The MRI result was good. No surprise. The cancer is still in the milk duct , DCIS. In one place. Scheduled for bilateral masuctomy for dec 11. I feel so much better. MRI says still stage-0 but my final pathology result will be after checking the actual lump. No lymph node involved. I am so greatful and thank u so much for ur paryer. It works. Sending u more hugs.

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  • Sourisou
    Sourisou Member Posts: 41
    edited November 2017

    Nov1, that's very good news for the MRI! I wish you a swift recovery from your BMX - there's a thread on the surgery forum I found really helpful for planning: https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/91/topics... Let us know how everything goes. Hugs and good vibes!


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  • Nov1
    Nov1 Member Posts: 8
    edited December 2017

    hi all. I just want let u know the genetic test came back negative for BRCA1 and two and other 6 genes.

    Thank u God

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  • Nov1
    Nov1 Member Posts: 8
    edited December 2017

    hi all

    Well after the gene test result my oncologist and surgeon and i had a meeting. Bcacuse of the size of the DCIS and the MRI result i was advised to consider lumpectomy but both of them respect my chooce if i choose to have bilateral mastectomy. I prayed about it and decided to have the lumpectomy and radiation then later the hormon theraphy tami.....

    I had lumpectomy done on tuesday 12/12/17 and now waiting for the final pathology. My wound is healing and am recovering. I am still scared about the final pathology. I will keep u post.

    Thank u for ur prayer. Thank u for lifting my spirit. Thank u for listening to me.

    I will keep u post.

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  • Nov1
    Nov1 Member Posts: 8
    edited December 2017

    i got my final diagnosis today

    DCIS contained in one place and small size-4mm

    Clear margin

    No necrosis

    No invasive cancer

    No need for chemo

    Cancer found on part of fibroadenoma- possibly changed to cancer

    Nuclear grade intermediate

    Once my wound heals i will start radiation.

    I am grateful.

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  • Castigame
    Castigame Member Posts: 752
    edited December 2017

    Nov1,

    Your prayer has been answered. I am so happy for you. Wish you speedy recovery.


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  • Nov1
    Nov1 Member Posts: 8
    edited December 2017

    Thank you Castigame

    Yes this group has been a wonderful help for me. I had very stressful weeks and the day i found out about final pathology, i felt better and slept long hour. My life has changed since this diagnosis. However, i came to conclusion that God has done a favour to me. He made me closer and now i see life differently. I appricate everyday and what i have. It made me humble.

    I am breast cancer survivor and i have to stay strong and together, beat cancer. I am greatful for having sisters like all of u ladies. Women like u made me feel better.

    Happy holidays!

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  • houmom
    houmom Member Posts: 162
    edited December 2017

    I'm very happy to hear you had such a great outcome! Now on to radiation and it will all be behind you!

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  • Snickersmom
    Snickersmom Member Posts: 926
    edited December 2017

    Nov1 - take a deep breath!! And then stop reading everything! I'm sure as a nursing student, you know about a lot of this stuff but remember that each of us is totally different. I was diagnosed in March of this year and just had a bilateral mastectomy on May 3, 2017. Mine was Stage 1A with no lymph nodes involved but because I had 2 other areas of suspicion in that breast, he had to do the mastectomy. I am 70 (the surgery was my birthday present!) and told him to take the other one, too, because I didn't want to have to worry about it. It was definitely the right decision.

    One thing I did almost immediately after my diagnosis was talk to my doctor and ask for something for my anxiety and insomnia. I was absolutely a wreck. He prescribed Xanax in a low dose, and that really helped. I was not groggy or a "zombie" at all. So don't be a hero. If it will help, get something!!

    This BCO website is awesome. I only discovered it a few months ago but everyone is so helpful and supportive. Don't be afraid to ask questions, etc. There's a link under Active Topics for ranting and raving, so go ahead and let it all out. Lean on your family and friends and your BCO sisters for support. That's what we are here for.

    Keep us posted

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  • Snickersmom
    Snickersmom Member Posts: 926
    edited December 2017

    That's great news

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