meemee

Dawn,

I was offered tamoxifen and decided it was not for me. I had DCIS and after a lumpectomy without clearing margins and then a mastectomy I didn't think it was going to make a difference since all the breast tissue was removed. My medical oncologist said it was still on a trial basis for patients with DCIS.(and not invasive)

I figured I will be watched so closely from now on that should something show up in my right breast it would be found even earlier then the left was.

The decision is totally personal and I'm sure you will make the right one for yourself !

Carole

Hey ladies:

Ottawa here. I have been very lucky (we have a breast health centre)

Lump in RB Oct 30th 2007 -

Mammo/ultra sounds Nov. 5th 2007 -

double biospy LB Nov. 30th 2007 -

Results (DCIS) Dec.10th 2007 -

Met 1st surgeon Dec.13th (didn't like her)

2nd surgeon Dec. 21st 2007 -

Lumpectomy (minuse the lump) LB Jan. 22nd 2008 -

results no clear margins Jan. 30th 2008 -

MRI Feb. 18th 2008 -

Mastectomy March 6th 2008 -

resutls all clear margins March 14th 2008.

Persistent / hard headed me found my own PS and expanding implant is going in July 14th 2008 !!!

Carole  xox

They do the expander here as well but in my case immediate was not done. My surgeon wanted me to wait until after my last pathology report.

Do you have a centre that deals specificaly with breast cancer ?

The Women's Breast Health Centre here in Ottawa gave me a CD to listen to. It was wonderful and relaxing and prepared me for the surgery and helped me get my sleep back.

Check and see if that is available for you it truly was a great tool for me to have.

If you can't get one or can't find one I will make a copy and mail it to you.

Carole xox

What kind of support system do you have at home ? Family, friends and sometime complete strangers can help you.

I have a small army of supporters and if they want to help, let them in whatever way they can.

I found that reading about my DCIS one step at a time, never getting ahead of myself and reading about what I needed to know "now" was very helpful. If you take off looking at everything it will certainly be way to much information.

Be careful, take you time and lean on people and before you know it you'll feel like you have "some" control and lots of knowledge.

You are strong and you will get through this you just can't see it yet.

Aquilla,

I have had a left breast mastectomy because the DCIS was very extensive and had started about 5 years ago (I had never had a mammogram because I was 42 and in Canada you can start going free of charge at age 50 unless your doctor sends you).

My surgeon did not want to do immediate reconstruction because he was worried it had become invasive (since the lumpectomy in January did not clear one single margin and 1/4 of my breast had been removed).

Physically I did extremly well, was home after just a few hours of both surgeries and only took Tylenol #3 for pain.

I have an appointment with a plastic surgeon on Thursday the 10th to get myself fixed up ! Once I have more information I will let you know.

Here in Canada the wait for plastic surgery is horrible (months to years) so I got on the internet and email doctors personally and got myself some appointments !!!

Now I don't know how you may feel if only one breast is removed but for me it's horrible, I wish I had them both removed so that I would be even and I would never have to worry about DCIS again. If only I knew then what I know now.

If you have a breast centre in your city ask to talk to other women about their experience or the nurses since they see women's reaction both physically and mentally on a regular basis.

The important thing is that they got this early, it will never get you !

Still with you,

Carole

Aquilla

Are you OK ? Are you still on ?

Carole

You are welcome. I think the best way (for me) to deal with it is to not get ahead of where you are at yourself. Looking into things when you are not at that stage yet can be way to much information and very stressful. I originally joined this site to get help in finding a plastic surgeon after I was done with surgeries. Prior to that I would only go on official sites (ie:the B.C. cancer information is very good) to get info on my own next step and not reading about all the other stuff that "could" be next.

Good luck with your searches Pam

cbl:

My surgeon said after my mastectomy on March 6th 2008 it's gone, we got it all and you cleared all the margins (I had DCIS as well).

I had not clearned any margins with the lumpectomy done in Jan. 2008 where about 1/4 of my breast had been removed.

Now I just have to worry about the right side since it is healthy with no DCSI (confirmed with an MRI).

Mammograms, ultra sounds and MRI are pretty much the only way DCSI can be seen unless it has broken through the ducts and has become invasive it would then form a tumor/lump.

Glad to hear you are cured as I am !

Kimbly, 

You'll do great and you will be fine in the end, just keep telling youself that this will save you life in the long run.

Take comfort in knowing that you can have immediate reconstruction. I did not and wished I had insisted regardless of the pathology "possible" outcome.

Now I am living with one breast (wished also that I had them both removed) with month and months of wait to see a plastic surgeon to "start" the reconstruction proccess.

But evenything will be fine....eventually !!!