Newly diagnosed dcis

Sorry I'm tired but just wanted to offer you sone reassurance.  This is excerpt from my profile - click on my name to read it all.

In May 2015 age 51 I was recalled from my first rountine screening mammogram for 2 areas of calcification (10mm & 5mm).   I was diagnosed with DCIS in the 10mm area only.  The smaller area was benign.  I had a WLE in July and 15 sessions of radiotherapy in September.  11mm high grade DCIS was final diagnosis after surgery. 

I'm a G cup so only small area removed without poor cosmetic appearance xx

Hi Carol,

thanks for replying! Sounds like you’ve had a tough time so I’m glad you’re still free of disease. I hope your husband is doing better too.
I’m actually considering a bilateral mastectomy. I know this may seem rash but I’m an F cup and had been considering a reduction anyway. The panic is that it will show up in my other breast or I’ll need multiple surgeries if they just excise it. I’m also a bit worried about work. I’m due back from maternity leave in November but think this will not be happening now. It doesn’t help that I work a lot with cancer patients. I almost know too much. I’m just overwhelmed.

Hi MamaH,

I am sorry you find yourself here. 

I too have had DCIS. Most recently in right breast upper inner quadrant, large area around 9cm. MDT said lumpectomy or mastectomy with reconstruction.  As I previously had DCIS in left breast,  reconstruction of both wasn’t really an option. So they were suggesting single mastectomy and DIEP reconstruction.  

I went for the lumpectomy and had round block, so scar around areola. I had positive margin so again offered re excision or mastectomy. I thought long and hard and decided the mastectomy and DIEP would be a longer recovery, so had re excision in June. Thankfully that was successful, and I’m having radiotherapy next week.

I should add I’m a 32E so although the area removed was large, they repositioned some of my breast tissue to fill the gap. It has meant by right breast is slightly smaller, and after radiotherapy I may need some cosmetic treatment.

My advice is to listen to what they recommend and take time to think about the options in your situation. Breast Care Nurses are on hand to chat too, so give them a call.

Wishing you all the best, and speedy recovery.

Karen 

Hi MamaH

Welcome to the forum and sorry to hear that you have been diagnosed with high grade dcis.  It perfectly understandable that you are feeling overwhelmed at the moment particularly as you have a young child to look after.  If you feel up to it try to get out in the fresh air a walk can do wonders for your mental health.

Wishing you the best of luck with your second biopsy and with your treatment.  Your medical team will do all they can to help you get through this and come out the other side of it.

Take care and best wishes

Daisy53

Thanks everyone for your kind words. The second biopsy did not go so well. It looks like they didn’t get the cells they wanted but they can’t be sure. So I’ll await the MDM and see what decisions they’ve made. 

Sorry to hear that the second biopsy didn't go well.  Hopefully you won't have to wait too long to find out what decisions the MDM make.

Daisy53

That's rubbish they weren't happy with second biopsy.  Did they say why?  Do you know the area of DCIS.  As you are quite young breast tissue tends to be more dense mammograms don't always get the best images.  Hopefully they roll offer you MRI then once you all have fuller information the best options for treatment an be discussed.  I thought when I was waiting for biopsy results if bad news it definitely meant chemo, probably mastectomy etc.  as I had DCIS no chemo and due to size of area a lumpectomy followed by radiotherapy was the treatment.  I had to wait till after surgery for confirmation of no invasive cells and to find out if I would require 5+ years of hormone treatment- I didn't.

This limbo time is the worse but we here to listen xx

Hi Carol,

so the DCIS is an area of dense tissue where they took the first biopsy from. The second biopsy was of a different area, one of many I have scattered across the breast that are smaller. Despite trying twice with the vacuum they weren’t convinced they had got any of the cells so have placed a marker and sent them off for analysis regardless. They want this biopsy to decide whether to recommend mastectomy or lumpectomy. Hopefully they’ve got something because I don’t really want to have a third one.

Fingers crossed they got it.  I have tiny calcifications in my breast but they've been stable for 7 years.  They said they look at pattern to determine if they need investigations hence my recall at year 6 for more magnified imaging .  

Hi MamaH  It’s so horrible having to wait all the time for results, keeping everything crossed for you.

I had similar situation my first time in 2013, so had DCIS confirmed in one area, but another area where 2nd biopsy was  inconclusive, 3rd during surgery showed it was either benign or they’d removed it during previous procedures. 

This time my Surgeon was so supportive and she insisted at MDT that I should have MRI before treatment plan. That was a good move, and made it clearer to them what it should surgery should be. 

Hope you can get answers soon. X