DCIS

KaraS

I was diagnosed with DCIS January 2. From my first mammogram in November to surgery in March, I have struggled. I hear that DCIS is not cancer because it’s non invasive. I read that it’s pre cancer. Anyone else with DCIS struggle with this? My treatment has been the same, to some extent, as if it was cancer. I even feel bad posting and asking because what others are going through. It’s hard when so many tell me it’s the best not cancer cancer to have. Like it’s not a big deal. Well, it’s my breasts that have gone through this, so it is a big deal. It’s the pain of recovery that says it’s something. The emotional and mental recovery has been just as hard as the physical. I’ve stayed silent because of the struggle of do/did I really have cancer?

SNG67

I was diagnosed with DCIS stage 0 in October 2024, had surgery and 20 radiation treatments. I asked my surgeon do I have cancer or had cancer. She said I had cancer. It seems like I didn’t have cancer because things went smoothly for me. When I make that comment to others they say count your blessings that it was easy. My doctor told me that cancer can be hard if not caught early. I struggle too with telling people I had cancer. I am thankful it wasn’t a hard journey. We go through things to be able to share others. I am glad yours was caught early.

dawnjuan821

I had DCIS in 2015; luckily it had not spread to my lymph nodes when they caught it. I had a double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery. I was declared "cancer free" However in 2023 I was diagnosed with Metastatic Breast Cancer. Stay on top of your breast health ladies.

hopeforthebest

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/329173/dcis

Hi,

Sorry you have to go thru this. I had DCIS and IDC and a lumpectomy last Feb . I hadn’t heard DCIS was pre cancer.
I can relate to what you said above. This whole cancer thing is like having whiplash. It’s been a year and I still have trouble accepting it and still worry if it will come back. I also had uterine cancer last Dec and a full hysterectomy in Feb. I too was told the breast cancer was the ‘best’ cancer to have. I thought, really, I didn’t think there was a ‘best’ cancer. All I know is it has turned my life upside down. Some days I feel strong but other days not so much. It has really affected me. I do feel sad a lot. I can relate to a lot of what you said. It’s hard to believe as I was always so healthy. I appreciate when people listen and don’t try to say things to try and make me feel better, but instead listen. I hope this post makes you feel heard. Your feelings are valid and unique to you and no one else knows how you feel.

KaraS

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1722159#Comment_1722159

Thank you for your words. At my 3 week post op appointment I was discussing my feelings with my surgeon. How it all felt surreal until the first guide wire was placed. How I kept hearing the prognosis is good and glad it’s caught early. As we talked she looked at me and said: They took your diagnosis away from you.

This is true of a few people I told. I know they were positive for me, but I wish I had shared and opened up from the start. The cells removed are cancer cells. Thankful for clean margins. Now on to the next 2 doctors to hear about treatment options. I have read too many times that once free of DCIS something shows up years later.

hopeforthebest

i like what your surgeon said. She’s right, I feel like my diagnosis was taken away from me too at times. This whole experience has just showed me more and more how I don’t know how people are feeling and how everyone’s experience is so unique. I feel too like, yes it was low grade cancers, but it was still cancer. And no one has a crystal ball to see that it won’t come back.