Diagnosed with DCIS? Advise Anyone???

deemarie
deemarie Member Posts: 8
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I've recently been diagnosed with Stage 0 DCIS.
The tissues in my lump were tested normal - the fluid in my lump/cyst was tested for early stages of DCIS. During the needle biopsy, they extracted the entire tissue through sampeling and drained all the fluid.
Looking for advise on what I should be feeling right now? I'm almost 38, I'm perimenapausal and have hypertyroidism. Needless to say the hormones are raging every where!! Seeking help from fellow sisters diagnosed as well.

D

Comments

  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #2
    I was 38 when I was first diagnosed with breast cancer. That was almost 20 years ago.
    Back then they almost always did radical mastectomies...so I had two of them. But now-a-days there are more options.
    Whatever you are feeling right now...you have a right! Just because we have hormones doesn't mean that our emotions are unreasonable.
    Get yourself a good support person...sister, friend, another survivor, whoever you can call at all times of the day or night....and don't hesitate to do so.
    Research, get second and third opinions, and pray.
    YOU CAN DO THIS.
    It won't be the most fun you've ever had, but you'll come out of it a stronger person. And then you'll pass some of your strength on to another woman who needs help.
    That's how it works.
    Lots of good thoughts and prayers to you, D.
  • deemarie
    deemarie Member Posts: 8
    #3
    unknown said:

    I was 38 when I was first diagnosed with breast cancer. That was almost 20 years ago.
    Back then they almost always did radical mastectomies...so I had two of them. But now-a-days there are more options.
    Whatever you are feeling right now...you have a right! Just because we have hormones doesn't mean that our emotions are unreasonable.
    Get yourself a good support person...sister, friend, another survivor, whoever you can call at all times of the day or night....and don't hesitate to do so.
    Research, get second and third opinions, and pray.
    YOU CAN DO THIS.
    It won't be the most fun you've ever had, but you'll come out of it a stronger person. And then you'll pass some of your strength on to another woman who needs help.
    That's how it works.
    Lots of good thoughts and prayers to you, D.

    Thank you so much for your uplifting comments. I totally understand about the support system. The few days I waited for the biopsy results I had not told anyone other than my sister and husband. Not even my mother and the anticipation alone was killing me. Now that I've spilled the beans, it's incredible the support that pours out of people.

    Today I will sit down and discuss with the doctor my options. It appears right now that since all was extracted with the needle biopsy and I caught it soooo very early, any type of surgery at all is not in my immediate future (great thing I guess).

    My mother-in-law, her sister, mother and aunt all had it and they have been wonderful with their support.

    Thank again for your encouraging words and your survival story always gives hope to others!!

    Thanks again!!
    Huge hugs back to you!!!
  • cruf
    cruf Member Posts: 908
    #4
    deemarie said:

    Thank you so much for your uplifting comments. I totally understand about the support system. The few days I waited for the biopsy results I had not told anyone other than my sister and husband. Not even my mother and the anticipation alone was killing me. Now that I've spilled the beans, it's incredible the support that pours out of people.

    Today I will sit down and discuss with the doctor my options. It appears right now that since all was extracted with the needle biopsy and I caught it soooo very early, any type of surgery at all is not in my immediate future (great thing I guess).

    My mother-in-law, her sister, mother and aunt all had it and they have been wonderful with their support.

    Thank again for your encouraging words and your survival story always gives hope to others!!

    Thanks again!!
    Huge hugs back to you!!!

    I had DCIS 5 years ago. Would be willing to help you in any way I can. Please e-mail me here with any questions and I will answer them. I will share my experience with you if you are interested. HUGS!! Cathy
  • deemarie
    deemarie Member Posts: 8
    #5
    cruf said:

    I had DCIS 5 years ago. Would be willing to help you in any way I can. Please e-mail me here with any questions and I will answer them. I will share my experience with you if you are interested. HUGS!! Cathy

    Thank you. I would appreciate hearing your experience. I don't know anyone else personally that was diagnosed with this. All others I know have had much more radical cases and although their support is great, knowing someone who has had it would be a knowledgable help. Thanks again!
    D
  • karinlee
    karinlee Member Posts: 15
    #6
    deemarie,

    i am 34 and just went through DCIS. i am also postmenopausal and hypothyroid. by the way, have you had any previous cancers? i opted for bilateral mastectomies and am going through reconstruction. where are you in the cancer process?

    karin
  • 24242
    24242 Member Posts: 1,398 Member
    #7
    I too was diagnosed mid thirties mine at 36. I was stage 3 with 11 out of 21 positive nodes. I found it helpful to read peoples profiles on this site. You too get to create one for yourself and also have access to email on this site.
    I have to tell you I felt very fortunate that I had a grandmother who had had breast cancer and I lived with her experience as well as the seeing the results of her surgery. That too helped me in my fight and I was very grateful for those experiences. Actually I had done self exams my whole life because of her fight with the disease. But my lump was ignored since I was so young and that time they felt chances were less than 10% even though had my grandmother in the mix. My faith is renewed with each early detection I hear of and am grateful that others can be spared some of the harshness of this disease.
    You know your body and now you know it even better than you did before. Listening to the body is the key in this all. I will be interested in knowing what you and the doctors decide as your coarse of action, keep us posted.
    Be good to yourself always,
    Tara
  • deemarie
    deemarie Member Posts: 8
    #8
    24242 said:

    I too was diagnosed mid thirties mine at 36. I was stage 3 with 11 out of 21 positive nodes. I found it helpful to read peoples profiles on this site. You too get to create one for yourself and also have access to email on this site.
    I have to tell you I felt very fortunate that I had a grandmother who had had breast cancer and I lived with her experience as well as the seeing the results of her surgery. That too helped me in my fight and I was very grateful for those experiences. Actually I had done self exams my whole life because of her fight with the disease. But my lump was ignored since I was so young and that time they felt chances were less than 10% even though had my grandmother in the mix. My faith is renewed with each early detection I hear of and am grateful that others can be spared some of the harshness of this disease.
    You know your body and now you know it even better than you did before. Listening to the body is the key in this all. I will be interested in knowing what you and the doctors decide as your coarse of action, keep us posted.
    Be good to yourself always,
    Tara

    Thank you as well for your advise. It truly helps to hear others stories as you mentioned.

    My situation is a great yet confusing one right now. As my doctor kindly explained to me - I am a survivor who didn't have a battle.

    The cyst/lump was completely drained and extracted during the needle biopsy. The blood biopsied within the fluid was melignant and that is what was diagnosed as DCIS Stage 0 to -1. After further blood tests and ultrasounds, they have found no sign of it spreading anywhere in the blood stream, nodes, etc. I only had to sweat out the wait for the biopsy without ever "knowing" that there were cancer cells in my body - by the time I received the results and everything else, it was all gone. No surgery, no treatments. We are now analyzing weather I should go on the Arimidex for prevention or not.
    I realize I could not have caught this any sooner than I had and I am in the best place possible. It's still a scarey place to be now knowing the diagnosis.

    My support system is fabulous - which I'm greatful for. The way things trickeled down and happened so quickly with such a posiitve outcome - it's still overwhelming.

    I found this on my own (the doctor still can't believe that I did since it bearly showed up on the mammogram but clearly showed on the ultrasound).

    Can't stress enough the power of self-exams and early detection. My mother-in-law has recently, 4 years ago, had a lumpectomy and radiation treatments so she has been my rock and my entire family and friendship support are proud of me for discovering this and having it looked at so quickly. I have definately opened their eyes to getting on the ball with self exams and following up with their doctors!!

    Thanks to everyone that has replied back to me on this discussion board.
    I'd love to hear from anyone who might me premenapausal like myself that might be taking Arimidex and could prepare me for the next step.

    Thanks again, bless you and lots of hugs!!!

    Denise

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