DCIS diagnosis. All new to this, need help with anxiety!!

Hi Liryll,

I'm sorry you've found yourself here. Anxiety and waiting is the worst - until you have your final result you just can't help creating monsters in your head. But you have to look at the positive as much as you can - so far it's DCIS, the earliest stage you can have. It seems yours is hormonodependent too, which offers more treatment options. If you're offered lumpectomy, I assume it's not too large either. So yes, for a majority of women in your case, it is "bing bang boom" and they never have to deal with this again! Will you be monitored for the rest of your life? Yes, but I see it as a positive. It means if something bad arises anywhere (in your breast or elsewhere), your doctors will most likely find it at an earlier stage. I come from a place where healtcare can be a bit... slow. But I often joke having cancer 18 years ago has put me in the fast lane for care - I'm seen by doctors much faster and most of all my worries are never dismissed.

If you have questions about lumpectomy vs mastectomy. do read this thread: https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/68/topics... and especially Beesie's post on the first page. You will be able to better evaluate the pros and cons of both methods.

Hugs to you xx

Hi Liryll - I haven't been back here in a long time, but I just wanted to say "hey" and give a shout out. I was dx'd in 2006 and I'm still alive and kicking Lumpectomy and rads, tamoxifen and a clinical trial with ovary suppression and I'm 11 years out The girls in here are amazing and have some great advice. Good luck to you xo

Hey Liryll, yeah I'm still waiting but don't worry, it will not be as long for you - if they told you 7-10 days that's what it most likely will be. I live in a place where the healthcare system can be a bit slow - although when results are serious, I've always been treated very quickly. So I take the 5 weeks delay before results as a good sign actually

As for the anxiety while waiting, as I said before there has been that strange peace falling on me as soon as surgery was behind. Maybe I feel that whatever cancer was there, it's most likely not in my body anymore? Also, before the surgery I felt it was bad news after bad news - first the cancer, then before I have time to process it, I'm told I'll lose my breast... then off I go to the plastic surgeon and then to surgery a week later. That's so much to process in such little time! Now, it seems I have more time to breathe and digest all that has happened in the last months.

Be gentle with yourself. If you're anxious, if you feel like venting 24/7, if you cry often or don't feel "tough", it's fine and it's normal. Just know that these feeling will pass and that you'll be all right.

People react differently to treatments. I tend to go back on my feet very quickly - was working 3 days after my lumpectomy and 1 week after my mastectomy (but then that's me, I prefer to keep my mind off cancer through working). When I had rads I was just a bit more tired because there was treatment everyday but that was it, it was completely painless (especially compared to chemo!)

Let us know how things go and come back here to vent whenever you need to!

Hi again Liryll. I was working three days after my lumpectomy, and can second the thought that you will feel a lot better emotionally after the surgery. There was a recovery period of course, and exercises to do, but it felt good to have taken action. I'm now on day four of radiation which has also been easier than expected. But my gosh, the people on this website have helped so much! I'd like to return the favor so keep writing!

Hi there ,

Looks like you and I are on the same boat ! I am also scheduled for lumpectomy on 12/6/17 . I was diagnosed on 10/13/17 with DCIS which was found from core needle biopsy . I took 4 days off work after I found out... It was awful . I'm scared of my lumpectomy but seeing tons of videos of the procedure on YouTube helped my anxiety . At least I know what to expect . Go to work , keep living , now more than ever you need a healthy outlet . You are not overreacting , just because it's dcis doesn't mean you are not allowed to grieve . I tend to always expect the worst so I understand . Dcis is highly treatable , do not let it define you ! I wish you the very best on 12/6/17 . Wear comfortable clothes . Don't stress too much , you will be surrounded by people who want to cure you

Liryll, I am so glad your lumpectomy went well. You may be very sore for a few days, those are usually the worst, then usually things improve. Do not hesitate to take pain meds if they gave you any or to call if they did not and it gets bad, even if in wee hours or on the weekend.The week of waiting is frustrating, of course, but it takes time to do all the analyses.

Keeping my fingers crossed for a good path report.

Hi, Linyll,

I saw your posts and this room for the first time this morning. I hope you are coming along ok after the lumpectomy, and the pain starts to subside. I am now at the other side, all finished with radiation 3 weeks now, and my remaining side effects seem to be subsiding.

Yes, this is a life-changing journey, and all your emotions are valid. I hope that the ladies here will help you through this time and the aftermath. I am still looking forward to the day when I don't think of my cancer, and can focus on my diabetes and maintaining a healthy diet instead.

A couple of thoughts... don't be afraid to ask for help. Or ask family members to come and see you. My daughter made the trip from Baltimore to Long Island, NY to be with me on the day of my surgery, and I was thrilled that she did. My brother, on the other hand, was down from Boston for a high school reunion and didn't come to see me, and I was pissed. But not surprised, that's his nature. Second, You will have a great outcome. So with your free time during your recovery, here's my suggestion: plan some life-affirming activities for after your treatment. DH and I are going down to Riviera Maya before Xmas for R and R, and to see the Mayan ruins. We also spent a weekend in the Berkshires after I finished radiation. What have you always wanted to do, but put off?

Finally, yes, while we are on the cancer-go-round, we do lose control of our bodies and our lives. Everything seems to revolve around doctor appointments, surgery, recovery, radiation. Our time is not our own. And of course you will have feelings about it. But it's an exchange... loss of control now for a full recovery and life afterwards. Some days, I can barely contain my sense of gratitude, for having caught the cancer so early, and finding dedicated and caring professionals to help me. And that the medical advances today have allowed a microscopic cancer to be found and treated. You are your own best advocate. If you think you are not getting the attention or care you deserve, speak out!

Wishing you a full recovery, a great path report and minimal side effects from radiation,

Hugs.

Hi Princess,

Hope your consults have eased your mind somewhat. I was diagnosed with DCIS in 2006, underwent two lumpectomies, radiation, and then 5 years of Tamoxifen. Honestly, the wait after the biopsies and surgeries was the most difficult part for me! Once I had a plan in place I felt much better. Radiation was not difficult for me, but a time commitment for sure. You shouldn't lose your hair with breast radiation, although undergoing chemo treatment for IDC years later, I did. Your anxiety is a totally normal reaction. What helped me most was my supportive family & friends and getting as much information as I could so I felt confident about the future. Oh, and breathing helps! When I am stressed I tend to hold my breath. Taking three deep long breaths does wonders for me. Wishing you well as you face all these decisions and challenges.

I was recently diagnosed with Stage 0 DCIS and I have had the lumpectomy and the doctor got clear margins and feels all of the cancer is gone. The titanium chip that was inserted during my biopsy did not latch on and has fallen. Therefore, it was not removed with the lumpectomy so there is a slight chance that some of the cancer may have travelled with the chip. The biopsy showed that my DCIS is estrogen/progesterone positive. The lumpectomy pathology showed Atypical Epitherelial Proliferation and atypical hyperplasia - but the surgeon got it all. She suggests three weeks of radiation followed by five years of Tamoxifen. I value her opinion as this is her area of expertise, but I have a few areas of concern and wanted to get opinions of those who have been through this.

1- since radiation can only be done on an area one time and if the cancer returns to my left breast a second time then a mastectomy would need to be done. So now I am second guessing doing the radiation this time and just trusting that if the diagnostic mammography every six months picks up something else then I could do the radiation then.

2- the personal stories I have heard from people who took and could not stay on Tamoxifen because of bad side effects and also the increased risk of pulmonary embolisms and endometrial cancer makes me think the risk of harm to another area of my body as a preventative for something that may never resurface again may be too much risk.

These are the thoughts that are turning in my head now - I meet with the radiation specialist September 6th and I am sure he will help me with some of these concerns - but I thought I would bring them up here so that other ladies who have lived through this might be of some help. I would greatly appreciate it. Knowledge is power and first hand experiences can help