Just diagonised and need a friend to talk too!

Hi Constatine.  I was diagnosed with dcis in may. I opted for a lumpectomy and radiation. The surgery was a piece of cake for me.  However, I did the genetic testing after the surgery (all I could think of was getting the cancer out) and found out I had a gene mutation. I am now getting a bilateral mastectomy and no longer doing the radiation so I have less chance of a second breast cancer. (I am only 40). I know how scary this all is. I am still scared all of the time though it does get better especially when you have a plan.  I know how over whelming this all can be. My advice is to ask lots of questions to your surgeon and find out all your options. Bring someone with you that can take notes b/c for me about halfway through my appointment I kind of just zoned out because there was so much info given. This site and the wonderful people on it have been a huge help too. Dont be afraid to ask lots of questions to lots of people just to get different opinions. Everyone is willing to answer pretty much everything I have found. I have a great support system too but no one that understands exactly what being diagnosed feels like. Please feel free to ask me any questions you might have. 

April

I am sorry about your diagnosis. It is a scary place t be no matter what stage you are. I was dx at the age of 32 with IDC (had chemo and rads). This was in 2011 and I am doing well so far (thank God!). You will do well too. Radiation goes by fairly quickly. I am glad yours was caught early. I am sorry about your mom. I can imagine how much you're missing her right now. Please know you are not alone. We are here to support you and answer any questions you may have. Always believe you will be OK.

Hugs to you and good luck with everything.

I'm so sorry about your dx, but we're here for you! You'll get through this, just like she did. Think about one step at a time, and soon it will feel a little less overwhelming.

HI.  I was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma of right breast.  I have done three rounds of chemo and will have more tests run after the 25th.  My tumor was 3.5 cm at diagnosis and I cannot feel it now, nor can the oncologist.  I will see the surgeon again soon for bilateral mastectomy.  I am triple positive for her2, progesterone, and estrogen.  It is all very overwhelming.  We all know the fear you talk about.  I will do at least 3 rounds of chemo after surgery too.  I don't know what stage I am.  Just grade 3.  I'm so worried it's spread too...but I have to keep taking one step at a time.  Think about an anxiety med.  I got on one and feel a bit calmer.  Good luck to you and think positive.  Medicine has come a long way with BC.

Hi all,

I just had to post,I know that shock is still so fresh.1st hearing need to go back for "diagnostic mammo" & a breast ultra sound. Guess I kinda failed the diagnostic mammo-cause told no need for ultrasound! As soon as I walked into Radiologist office with my films lighting up room -just knew he was calling me into his office to shake the hand of this sexy woman,lol. He immediately set up stereotactic biopsy appt.2 dayslater,another radiologist telling me "good kind of cancer" DCIS.contact your gp & they will refer you to a surgeon....pardon me,what was that you said. Lol.Everything has gone do quickly with me,guess they know a "runner" when they see one. Saw surgeon 2 weeks later ,than he sent me for breast MRI & scheduled surgery for 9/2/15. Head is still spinning! In other words hang in there Constantine, just breathe,praying is helpful to!

Patty

Hi Constantine,

I was also dx with DCIS in mid-July. I had a lumpectomy and breast reduction on Aug. 6. I have had problems with incisions healing up, but will finally start radiation in about 2 more weeks. There has been so much going on since my diagnosis seeing different doctors, getting biopsy, placing wires before surgery, then surgery. I feel I have a great team of doctors, though and hope to be cancer free before Thanksgiving. I only have to do 3 weeks of radiation. I questioned the dr about that and he insists 3 weeks is as good as 6 weeks. Good luck to you. Hang in there. It is very overwhelming at times, but you have to keep charging along. We are lucky ours is DCIS!

cinnamonsmile said:

I had DCIS in 2010 and had a

http://www.cancer.org/cancer/indexI had DCIS in 2010 and had a double mastectomy on 1/11/11. I chose the mastectomy because after my lumpectomy, I didn't have clean margins and the surgeon drew a picture of all the cancer and precancer (atypical ductal hyperplasia) in my milk ducts. There were dots representing cancer and precancer all over and it would "hit" one part of my duct, then miss, then hit another. Because of this, I decided on the mastectomy. I was scheduled for a presurgical MRI and said if they even suspected cancer in the other breast I would have it removed. The MRI showed a mass in the other breast, but after pathology, it wasn't cancer but was something neede to be removed.

I have been cancer free ever since.

Just as a note... Chemo is NOT standard treatemnt for ONLY DCIS! Here is a good explanation why from another poster from breastcancer.org:

" If you have pure DCIS, you will not need chemo. Chemo is a systemic treatment - it is given to address the risk that cancer cells may have moved into the body (i.e. distant recurrence/mets). Chemo is not given to treat cancer that is only in the breast and DCIS, by definition, is confined to the breast - that's why chemo isn't necessary. If it's found that you have a small amount of invasive cancer (a microinvasion or just slightly larger) along with your DCIS, according to current treatment guidelines you still likely won't be given chemo. This is because the risk of distant recurrence is considered to be too low to warrant such a toxic treatment. If however it's found that you have a larger amount of invasive cancer, then chemo might be required, depending on the size and pathology of the invasive cancer." (https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/68/topic/790992).

 

Breastcancer.org has a wonderful forum for DCIS. I highly suggest you check it out as well.

There is a special thread for information on DCIS...Here is the link for it:

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/68/topic/790992

cancer.org also has some good information about cancer and breast cancer:

http://www.cancer.org/cancer/index

Hi Cinnamonsmile:

Did you have reconstruction? If so what kind? I had DCIS in the left breast and now for piece of mind am having a bilateral mastectomy (have the ATM gene). Just wondered what your experience was like and if you are happy with the choice you made?

Thanks

Hello

Your story is exactly like mine. My mum also had a double mastectomy but did not die of cancer. I

had my very first mammogram and lo and behold a lump was discovered. Though mine was less than

one centimetre it was  cancer. I opted for a lumpectomy followed by 6 weeks of radiation. Currently I

Am on an estrogen blocker.

Don't be afraid. There are side effects of radiation. You will experience pain now and again.

You will be required to undergo bĺood tests, pop smears and mammograms in the first 5 years.

Only a small percentage of people experience post op pain.

Will keep in touch

Ķumarie.