DCIS followup

dharmal
dharmal Member Posts: 17
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Hi there..I had lumpectomy in January for DCIS. The margins were positive, so surgeon wants to re-excise. I really don't want to do any more than I have to and am unsure what to decide now. I am leery of radiation as well due to some of the side effects. the followup mammogram showed no residual calcifications...I'm thinking of having an ultrasound next and then decide from there...any input would be greatly appreciated

Comments

  • cruf
    cruf Member Posts: 908
    #2
    Hi! I had the same problem after the lumpectomy with the lateral margin not being clear. I chose to have a mastectomy with immediate reconstruction. I'm very glad I did it that way. Knowing that the cancer is gone is much easier to live with than worrying about whether the radiation killed all the cells. I'm not happy that I had to go through all this but the results have been good and I know at this point I'm free of cancer. I'll go for my 2nd mammo and ultrasound in July. Hope everything is still good then!Good luck with your decision. You have to do what's best for you! I did what was best for me. Keep us informed. HUGS!! Cathy
  • nasa2537
    nasa2537 Member Posts: 311
    #3
    Hi....If you really trust your surgeon, I would do the re-excision, but that's me. You have to decide that for yourself. As for the radiation, I can tell you I had 33 treatments, and I am no worse for wear. I got pretty pink, but the skin only felt like a very mild sunburn. The breast tissue, and under my arm hurt like I was PMS-ing after about the first week, and stayed that way for awhile afterwards. It does toughen the skin, but the breast is still very pliable, and (according to my husband) doesn't feel much different than the other one. It will also feel hot through the treatments, but not unbearable. Of course, everyone is different, so your reactions could be different, but I have friends locally who felt pretty much like I did, that it wasn't all that bad. I personally felt the worse part was the driving to the cancer center every day....after the simulation and the first treatment (which take longer due to the set-up involved), you will spend more time on the road than you will getting the treatment. Please let us know what you decide, and how you are doing. If you need to chat, write any time. Best wishes, Cyndi millionairs2@aol.com
  • banker
    banker Member Posts: 317 Member
    #4
    Hi, I alsohad a lumpectomy for DCIS in Feb., My margins were clear, still I took 34 radiation treatments and now chemo, I want to make sure the cancer is gone, although there are no guarantees. Radiation not bad, timeconsuming, my breast is ok, little pink and some scartissue. I would do at least the re-excision, you have to get rid of it. I wish you the best and hope you make a decision that is right for you. Take care, god bless...Emmi
  • samari
    samari Member Posts: 12
    #5
    Hi I also had DCIS and I have read everything I can get my hands on. From everything I have read and from what I have been told by drs is that the most important thing is clean margins. I was not comfortable at all as following the biopsy I had close margins, so I had the surgeon go back in and take more. I am now about done with 30 radiation treatments, they are very tiring and I am having some burning but I figure there are side effects with everything and it is not anything I can't live with. The hardest part for me is dealing with the emotional part and I find during treatment there is no resource for that at the cancer center - this site helps a lot and I have joined a support group. You have to get as much info as you can and make a decision that works for you. Best of luck and if you want to talk further I would be happy to - samarisews@aol.com - good thoughts coming your way! Mari
  • dharmal
    dharmal Member Posts: 17
    #6
    As an add-on to my original comments, did anyone have an ultrasound as well as mammograms? I am thinking of doing that for reassurance...
  • cruf
    cruf Member Posts: 908
    #7
    dharmal said:

    As an add-on to my original comments, did anyone have an ultrasound as well as mammograms? I am thinking of doing that for reassurance...

    Hi! Yes, I had an ultrasound last time and will continue with each mammo. My tissue has become more dense, probably from the Tamoxifen, and they want to be sure there is nothing hiding in the dense tissue. I guess they can get a clearer picture with the ultrasound! HUGS!! Cathy
  • jamac
    jamac Member Posts: 24
    #8
    Hi. I was diagnosed with extensive multifocal DCIS last fall. One web site that I've found extremely helpful in helping me understand the disease and treatment options is Oncolink. If you click on cancer types you can get to breast cancer info and go from there. There is a lot of info about DCIS. Maybe you've already seen this site. Hope it helps you - it sure helped me. Take care. Julie

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