DCIS/Double Mastectomy/Chest Wall Ultra Sound

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sudawilson
sudawilson Member Posts: 9
in Breast Cancer #1
In 2001, I was diagnosed with DCIS in one breast and decided to have a double mastectomy as a precaution to getting breast cancer again. I had expanders and then implants. Now ten years later, I found a small node under my left arm which was removed two days later and found to be malignant. They also removed 15 other lymph nodes that were all clear.

I am HER2, Estrogen/Progesterone positive and doing A/C chemo at this time. I have had two treatments and have two more to go before starting T/H. No serious side effects at this time. My hair on my head started falling out after 13 days and I am almost bald. But the strangest thing is that my hair has stopped falling out and I actually have new growth on my head. I have not lost my eyebrows or eyelashes or the hair on my legs (which I would have welcomed). Has anyone else experienced this on A/C? I don't know what T/H will bring but would be happy if I could just keep my eyebrows and eyelashes.

The main reason for writing this is this: Please don't ever think that just because you have DCIS and have a double mastectomy that your worries are over. Be sure and have your doctors do an ultra sound of your chest wall on a regular basis!!! I can't stress this enough. All scans have been clear and I feel very fortunate!!

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  • grams2jc
    grams2jc Member Posts: 756
    #2
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    I did experience that
    I had epirubicin/cytoxan as my onc couldn't get adriamiacin(sp) and then Taxol. My hair started to grow again as I finished the e/c but the Taxol took it all away and more...eyelashes, most of my eyebrows and everywhere else. Boy did I miss my nose hair in that runny nose season. I had about 4 eyelashes left on each eye and just enough brows left to see where to fill them in. Now 3 months post chemo I have my lashes and brows and lots of other hair back...some where I didn't really want it but am not yet brave enough to go without my "Raquel".

    Sending you positive thoughts and good vibes,

    Jennifer
  • DebbyM
    DebbyM Member Posts: 3,289 Member
    #3
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    I am so sorry that you had
    I am so sorry that you had this recurrence. And thank you for sharing this very important message with us.

    Praying for you,


    Debby
  • cinnamonsmile
    cinnamonsmile Member Posts: 1,187 Member
    #4
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    Thank you so much for
    Thank you so much for writing to us all. I had 3 cm of DCIS removed jan 2011. I have heard of couple other women that have had reocurrence after DCIS. No one on my medical team mentioned ultrasound checks. I will bring this up with my surgeon when I get another check up in August. I felt uncomfortable with her original..."your family dr. can follow up and teach you how to do chest exams." I will be asking (more like telling) that I think a yearly ultrasound will help me put my mind at ease.Good luck to you!!!
  • Angie2U
    Angie2U Member Posts: 2,991
    #5
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    cinnamonsmile said:

    Thank you so much for
    Thank you so much for writing to us all. I had 3 cm of DCIS removed jan 2011. I have heard of couple other women that have had reocurrence after DCIS. No one on my medical team mentioned ultrasound checks. I will bring this up with my surgeon when I get another check up in August. I felt uncomfortable with her original..."your family dr. can follow up and teach you how to do chest exams." I will be asking (more like telling) that I think a yearly ultrasound will help me put my mind at ease.Good luck to you!!!

    Yes, thank you for writing
    Yes, thank you for writing this. It just shows that we all have to always be on top of our own health and to never let our guard down.

    Good luck and thanks,


    Angie
  • mruczko
    mruczko Member Posts: 110
    #6
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    DCIS
    Suda:
    I was floored to read your post - never thought it was possible with DCIS to get cancer in the lymph nodes as far out as 10 years! Question - was the DCIS on also on the left side? I am learning so much through these posts.
    Hugs, Marlene in West Houston.

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