Hi
Welcome to the forum, albeit a sad welcome as none of us really want to be here!
Yes, you are correct that DCIS isn't the worst diagnosis and is described as 'non life threatening' by oncologists. However, as you say it is still scary, because the treatment is very similar to that of invasive cancer. So, don't feel as though it's any 'less of a diagnosis' for you.
Hopefully you will have been told what their plan of action is for you? Hopefully a lumpectomy (now called wide local excision) and then possibly radiotherapy and again, possibly tablets. It all depends on what type of DCIS you have, but it's generally unlikely for you to have chemotherapy (although not set in stone).
I had invasive cancer and DCIS and when I had my radiotherapy I met up with 2 ladies regularly who had radiotherapy at the same time - they both had DCIS diagnosis and, as I say, their treatment was the same as mine. I didn't need chemo because my invasive cancer was hormone related, so we all followed the same path.
I think the scary thing is that we don't know what to expect from the treatment and the multitude of side effects that are told to you along the way! I think my biggest learning from my treatment was to take each step at a time and that it wasn't as bad as I feared. I had 80mm removed from my breast (15mm cancer, 54mm DCIS), then radio. then tablets for 5 years (which I'm still taking). Each time, I was worried about what might happen, but it actually was a lot easier than I envisaged. I was actually back at work 2 days after my lumpectomy and driving 5 days after. I sailed through radio, with only minor burns and have had no side effects to the tablets. Yes, I have been extremely lucky and I worried myself silly over each step! Often you will see posts on forums from ladies who have had/are having side effects - rather than those that have been perfectly ok. So, just take it one step at a time and try not to worry. (Easier said than done, I know!) - but that really is the best advise that I can offer.
Kindest wishes, Lesley
Hi
Oh, that's an awful shame for you to have to undergo a mastectomy. I'm sorry to hear that. It's naturally 'more' of an operation than a lumpectomy. Yes, I forgot to say that they remove your sentinel lymph nodes to check whether there's any cells in those - we all have different numbers of sentinel lymph nodes.
Like you, I wasn't ill and I went to my 2nd appointment on my own thinking that it was just that they didn't know my breasts (it was my first ever mammogram) so I was totally unconcerned.
I think that although you don't feel ill and would be perfectly capable until your operation of being perfectly normal physically at work, the mental impact is major and it could affect your work because, if you are anything like I was, then it's easy to get distracted and make mistakes thinking about it all - so take the light duties and don't feel guilty about it in the slightest. It's good of your employers to be so compassionate - there are many stories of people not being looked after! I was surprised by my boss, as a small business - he offered to pay for taxis to and from work for me until I was able to drive and it's the kindness of some people which really surprised me with my diagnosis.
There's a few threads on here about mastectomy and reconstruction, it's worth looking through those to help you make a decision about whether to have reconstruction immediately or later. if offered. I can't really help with that. I was left with a dent, which I wasn't expecting and I personally would have chosen to have it filled at the time if I'd known. I wouldn't undergo further surgery now as it took about a year before it stopped hurting each time I lifted something with that arm. I don't think you'll need radiotherapy because of the mastectomy.
I underwent my biopsies on 20th June and had my operation at the end of July. I was diagnosed 4 years ago and things are a lot different now with Covid. They may not rush your operation depending on how they are coping with backlogs due to Covid etc and don't worry too much if they don't. Having said that, I've had my annual mammograms throughout the Covid crisis - on the dot! Last year was on 25th June and this year, I've already had my letter for it on the 30th - so some hospitals are carrying on as normal it seems
If you want to see a bit more of the timeline of my journey (albeit it will be different, because I had less treatment than you), then click on my picture and it will take you to my profile.
Kindest wishes, Lesley
