Make sure you get a copy of your pathology report.

The basics that you want to know are ER status, PR status, and grade - those all come from the biopsy pathology - and an estimate of the size of the area of DCIS, which comes from the imaging. Based on the size, is a lumpectomy + radiation feasible? Or is a mastectomy recommended? That's about it - DCIS is less complicated than invasive cancer.

This thread might help you frame your discussion with your doctor:

Topic: A layperson's guide to DCIS

Welcome Colleen!

I was also diagnosed last Thursday. The surgeon that did the biopsy called and told me that I had DCIS high grade. I am meeting with him on Monday to find out what my treatment are going to be. I feel very nervous and scare.

Yes, Colleen, tough decision! It is the same decision I just made after much exploration, including reading and feedback from this site. Hopefully you're feeling some relief having actually made a decision even while other stress obviously remains. Welcome to Sylvia1 as well though as we also say - sorry you have to be here. I wish both of you well! Please keep us up on your respective journeys. I will do the same...It is great having people who have been there and understand even if there are differences in our experiences too.

Wow! That is right around the corner and yes, fast, in the grand scheme of things. I'm so glad you're familiar and comfortable with your surgeon given your mom's experience. That has to help a lot! My surgery is scheduled for Aug. 31 with a fairly full day of pre-op appointments Aug. 28. I meet the hematologist/oncologist this afternoon. It's just via phone call since I don't have (or want) a Smart Phone and she apparently didn't set up a Zoom appointment. An AI won't do me any good and the estrogen percentage Cleveland Clinic just came up with was 2% vs. the 5% my local hospital had me at (P was <5%). Certainly hoping nothing else develops and I don't need chemo though it makes sense to meet with her today. Best with your surgery!

Oh Colleen... thanks for asking! She was fantastic! Sooooo personable and interested in getting to know ME - she carried her phone around trying to find a computer with a camera on it so she "could see me." - I don't have a Smart Phone (and don't want one either!) - she carried me around for 13 minutes until she could get set up with a lap top with a camera. It didn't bother me in the least if it was just a phone call... She was very engaging and attentive and told me she had a sense of "who I am." That was really important to her before we talked about DCIS or any treatment. Kind of surprised me.... She agreed no endocrine therapy due to being sooo low estrogen positive (2%) and there was some discussion of why I would anyways due to BMX - though I think if my estrogen receptor was quite a bit higher she would have recommended it - she said something about if it were 30%....???? So she will meet with me 3-4 weeks after my surgery when pathology is back.

She is also a hematologist and I've had some red blood cell level issues for about a year now that no-one else wants to pay attention to - she knew exactly what I was concerned about and is ordering yet another genetic blood test for what could be kind of like a blood cancer though not like typical leukemia.... I'll get that done at the same time as the multi-gene cancer panel... All that on pre-op day next Friday. I'll be going from 9 a.m. through 3 p.m. and unfortunately driving to three facilities for all these appointments - not thrilled about that though they are all within about 10-18 minutes from each other.... just how it worked out...

Let us know how the pre-op appointments go! Best to you and gentle hugs back!

Best with pre-op today Colleen! Let us know how things go....

I'm so glad it went so well Colleen! I hope your surgery goes as well. It is weird with all this COVID stuff - restrictions, etc. I have to have a test Friday for Monday's surgery as well. I think they're doing that for so many procedures and surgeries now... I live alone though a friend of mine from Wisconsin is going to meet me in Cleveland for my surgery. I just told her today she should just leave the hospital when they take me back for surgery and just keep her phone next to her the next handful of hours. From what you just said that may be her only choice. I'm must thankful she has kept herself COVID safe so she will drive me back to central PA and stay for a couple of weeks too.

I hope your husband will look after you well with anything you need. I have others in this area that will bring food and help out with other errand kinds of things as needed - shouldn't need much really. With COVID though I also don't want much contact with others. I only go like 3 places though I go to each about twice per week - no social stuff so I don't want other people's risks, esp. just before or just after surgery. Be careful and I wish you the best for Friday! Did your BS tell you how long the surgery will take? I don't recall my surgeon mentioning though she may Friday when we meet again. I looked it up on-line and said 4-6 hours for a BMX!!! I had 1-2 hours in my head before looking that up LOL - wishful thinking!

Thanks Colleen. Good to know on the 2 hours too. I'm having SNB so that may add a little time, likely not much. I go in at 7:00 a.m. for the injection. Won't know my actual surgery time until Friday afternoon. The 4-6 hours I saw on-line may have included recovery time too?

Hi Colleen! Wondering how you are doing and feeling?

I'm glad you are doing well. The appointments all went well. I actually had my surgery on Monday. That went about 5 1/2 hours which was 2 hours longer than the BS planned though she said all went well? No cancer in any sentinel node. Waiting on pathology. I spent a night in the hospital and then a friend drove me home. I have not had pain either - only using Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen every other three hours for each - keeping them rotating that way more for prevention.

The drive home (4 hours) was good too - I expected a lot of discomfort and just did not have much. The drains are not painful or uncomfortable at all for me other than lugging them around. They have these sealed down to my skin tightly which I think is making the difference. My drains are not draining much and less each day - I'm hopeful I can get mine out Tuesday when I go for post-op. My friend helped me strip each one yesterday. I'm actually going to work a few hours by phone today. One hour of work then 1 1/2 hour break then about another 1 hour 45 minutes - we'll see how that goes - I may need to cut things a little shorter.

I'm doing a lot independently though not doing much of anything. I'm so surprised I'm doing this well. Medical staff were so surprised and impressed....

Oh Colleen - not to worry! You've had a lot on your plate with pre-ops and surgery! Thanks for well wishes on post-op - I think it's strange they are having me come back so soon... I hope I can then have whichever drains remain after Tuesday removed locally - don't want to drive 4 hours again to have the one or two remaining removed the following week...

Glad your recovery is going well! Sounds like you're expecting to have all your drains removed - hope you're doing well enough for that to happen when the nurse visits!

My BS had to go on medical leave... I feel for her and am thankful she was able to do my surgery before her leave began. that being said I messaged her P.A. yesterday about the drains and the 4 hour drive. Only two of them are consistently putting out less than 30 ml - she said that needs to occur two consecutive days prior to removal. One of the drains isn't close really and the other is really trying so might be ready by Tuesday? I'm lugging around a wound vac too that will be done Monday at some point. I will ask about the other drains being removed at my PCP's office or something since I'm pretty sure I'll still have one or two after Tuesday. I'd hope that would be all right....? At the same time my car is still at my nephew's in the Cleveland area. I won't be driving that home Tuesday so still do need to make another trip into Ohio for my car. It will all work out... these are the smaller things at this point really. Surgery over and waiting on pathology.... Sounds like your recovery continues going well!

Congrats Colleen! So happy for you. I believe I will be left with one drain at least after the appointment Tuesday. I will be able to disconnect from the larger wound vac Monday and will have at least two drains removed Tuesday so that will feel great! I'll keep you posted....