Ductal carcinoma in situ

Hi hope you don’t mind me asking. I am still waiting for confirmation of type of cancer but judging by the treatment surgeon ‘thinks’ will be appropriate it may be dcis. Would you mind me asking did you have an obvious lump. I do and mine is also 5cm

Hi Valsey,

I didn't have a lump or any other signs - mine was picked up on a routine mammogram and called back.XXxx

A very good answer. I was told initially that I had pre-cancerous cells. This was at One Stop Breast Clinic. I wasn't bothered at all when I heard that, but it did then come as one hell of a shocker when told by Breast Surgeon the real truth - mastectomy. The precancerous cells were everywhere, not just in one place. I would rather they had been more truthful in the first place and not left it to the Breast Cancer Surgeon to sort the whole mess out and tell me.

Thank you so much for getting back so quickly. I’m driving myself bonkers. The waiting is the worst I guess x

I was told by surgeon who gave diagnosis at follow up appointment to biopsy that DCIS is cancer but it's not invasive.  She said it might never become invasive and if on biopsy it's low grade some might adopt a wait & watch approach but she didn't favour that approach.  My DCIS was intermediate on biopsy but she warned me surgery biopsy might show something different .  Mine was upgraded to  high grade after surgery and went from 10mm to 11mm. but I had no invasive cells and clear margins.  She did say she had a high rate of clear margins first time as she used some imaging equipment during surgery.   I've just had mammogram at 6 years and they repeated some images to check stability but eventually told every thing is good,  

The waiting and the uncertainty is the worst part..... once you know and have plan of action, you have something to focus on.XXxx

Had my appointment today and was given option of a lumpectomy then further surgery if margins are clear to fill the breast with my fat (flap) then radiotherapy  if margins are not clear and it’s a more invasive cancer then it’ll be further surgery of a mastectomy. Second opinion is a mastectomy with or without reconstruction. It’s so terrifying. I think I’m swerving towards a mastectomy 

Mastectomy will probably give you best results and less pain (well still painful but not twice op)

I was told that reconstruction can be an option after radiotherapy...are you hoping for reconstruction?

Well at least now you have options and when you have decided then you will feel much better, more empowered.

If you any questions ask away.

C x

I was given two options on reconstruction and I am not to bothered about it my breast are tiny anyway and I was shown a special bra with a pad. I could always do it down the line but for now I just want this ugly thing out of my body. Been crying for past two hours been a rollercoaster of emotions. Mentally draining. Thank you for your support 

Aww. Bless you. I guess smaller boobs are a blessing so you won’t be so uneven. I was same. Just wanted it gone. But I’m a 42F so seriously wonky now!!   Watching Stacey Solomon sort peoples lives out is taking my mind off waiting for pathology results etc.  but give yourself permission and space to cry - the tears are part of the healing and I’m convinced you need to get them out to get your strength.