Done with Treatment, but now worried about recurrence.

My onc said to minimize alcohol, sugar and processed foods in favor of an 80% plant based diet and to avoid microwaving anything in plastic containers. I was diagnosed stage IV at 41, so I am constantly monitored but I can totally understand being anxious and wondering what now? I think it’s mostly bad luck genetically, hopefully you won’t have to deal with this again.

I've been hovering over this website for a year now. I have learned so much about DCIS and want to thank all of you for sharing your stories with me. I think it's time I do the same. Here it goes:

Last March, 2017 at age 59, I had my annual mammogram. They saw calcifications in my left breast and called me back for additional images. From there, I had a stereotactic biopsy(I've had this biopsy before for calcifications on the right breast in 2014 which turned out B9). Several days later, the radiologist called and said "it is cancer". I was shocked. She then told me I would have to have surgery and radiation. Before surgery my breast surgeon ordered an MRI. Fortunately that was the only area and the following week I proceeded to lumpectomy surgery. My pathology came back DCIS, grade 3 with comedonecrosis and the closest margin was 2mm. I was all on board with the radiation until my regular doctor, suggested that maybe I didn't really need radiation. That threw me for a loop because I really admire and trust him, so I thought maybe radiation was overtreatment. I was torn. I had the radiation scheduled. I read so many posts here and many of them recommended a second opinion with Dr. Lagios. I postponed my radiation for two weeks later. I sent all my tests, labs, etc to Dr. Lagios and he concurred with the diagnosis and emphatically stated that I needed radiation. He also recommended before starting radiation to have another MRI to make sure there was no residual DCIS hanging around after surgery. Well by the time I got his results I was two days into the rads. My RO ordered the MRI (I think he felt pressed to do so because of Dr. Lagios' recommendation.). When the results came back he said everything looked fine and I continued on with radiation. I had 34 radiation treatments, the last 7 being boosts. I had minimal issues and all has been fine since then except some pain in the breast - nothing bad or unusual from what I understand. Fast forward to this year:

Two weeks ago I go in for my first mammogram since treatment. Three days later I get a cryptic phone call from the technician who did the mammogram. She said the radiologist wants to know if I had any surgery on my breast after the last MRI (the one Dr. Lagios recommended). I said no. She said fine, I'll tell the radiologist. I thought that call was strange. 3 days later I get a call saying they want to do additional images on the left breast. I go in and the technician (a different one) says there are no problems they just wanted to do imaging on the exact area they imaged last year where they found the dcis and there is no need to worry. She said it should have been done during last week's mammogram. I asked if I would have to have another biopsy she said no, everything looks ok. They only re-imaged the left breast. Several days later I get a call from my breast surgeon's Office (he's new, my other one who did the surgery has since retired) and said they saw new calcifications on my right breast, above the ones they diagnosed in 2014 which were benign. They want to do a stereotactic biopsy. OK here's where the weirdness comes in. When I go see the surgeon for consult about the upcoming biopsy, he says that he's also concerned about something in the MRI report that was done last year! This is what that report states:

There is a uniform rim of granulation tissue surrounding the lumpectomy site in the lower outer left breast, with only one area of thickening of this enhancement, along the anterior/medial aspect of the cavity, inferiorly. This extends up to 3mm. No other additional areas of enhancement to suggest additional neoplasm. Surgical and oncologic follow-up is recommended.

My new surgeon is concerned about the 3mm. Could that have been residual dcis? He's s going to confer with the radiologist and get back to me. In the meantime I'm scheduled for a stereotactic biopsy in two weeks on the right breast.

I thought all of this was behind me. Not yet I guess. Any thoughts? Thanks for all your insight. This site and you wonderful people have been a huge source of support for me.

Thanks Ingerp. One of my closest friends said the same thing - he’s just being thorough. I do appreciate that. I thought it strange that when they called me back for more imaging on this last mammogram they didn’t even look at the right breast and that’s the one they want to biopsy now. Now it’s the waiting game which is always hard. Patience is not my strong suit!

I am 5 and a half years out. You will think about this less and less as time goes by. I promise.

Ingerp is right RoseGinger. DCIS is a nightmare for doctors to operate on. It is practically invisible. I had to have a second surgery and my BS was really bummed saying "I really thought I got it all" Many surgeons are now doing margin "shaves" to prevent just what happened to many of us. They get it "all out" and then add a cm all around to make sure.