This is my first time on the forum, having just been diagnosed unexpectedly with ductal carcinoma in situ just a few hours ago. I’m still in shock.
I’d had nipple discharge and a lump which I had surgically removed along with my milk ducts, three weeks ago. The consultant though it was just a papilloma and duct ecstasia, so although unpleasant, I wasn’t particularly worried. I have no family history of cancer and and am healthy and don’t drink or smoke. I am only 43 years old, with two older children, whom I breast fed for 2 1/2 years in total.
I went to see the consultant last night and give me the bad news.
He has recommended an MRI, another lumpectomy with a clear margin, followed by radiotherapy. My boobs are rather small (34B) so he has concerns it won’t look great with more removal of tissue. He did mention the possibility of a mastectomy, but that sounds a bit extreme. I would then need yearly mammograms to keep things in check.
I was just reaching out to see if anyone was going through the same. I was also hoping for advice on options. It sounds tempted to consider a mastectomy as that would ease my worry in the future, but I don’t know what the options are for a type of reconstruction. Also the consultant failed to mention what the radiotherapy involved and the length of the course. If anyone could help with that, I would be very grateful.
I would be very appreciative of any advice as my mind is all a whirl.
Hi and welcome although this is not place where any of us would choose to bem but one thing is for sure you will get plenty of help and support from the lovely ladies on here.
If you post your message on the going through treatment thread I am sure that there will be plenty of ladies who have experienced the same diagnosis as you and will tell you about their experience in relation to mastectomy and reconstruction.
In relation to radiotherapy it is very doable and the whole apt takes about 15 minutes each day. You will have an apt with your oncologist who with go through the process itself and advise you how many treatments it will involve and possible side effects, if you are going to have an hormone tablets they will discuss them with you in relation to the side effects. You will then have a planning appointment at which they measure you up and you have 3 tiny tattooes which is all part of it but nothing to worry about.
I had 15 sessions of regular radiotherapy and 5 boosters which is where they target the tumour site itself. The actual treatment itself is not painful and you will be advised on how to look after the breast during treatment, like keeping the area moiisturised to ensure it is well hydrated because the treatment does tend to act in the same as sunburn. Also you need to drink plenty of fluids, they recommend 2 litres a day more than usual to combat the dehydration which can cause fatigue. The radiotherapy is that it is given Monday to Friday and then weekends off, so it is the effects of the daily travelling to/from the hospital that builds up really.
I hope I have nto bombarded you with information at this time. It is an awful lot to take in at this time but once you get your treatment plan you will be able to see what is happening and when which I know I found reassuring.
Just remember that we are all here for you and this is a lovely place where you can rant, rave, cry and laugh, honestly we do a lot of that on some of the threads. Look at the Progesterone, hormone and fluffy stuff under going through treatment, hormones thread.
Helena xxx oh by the way I am not normally up this early but woke and could not get back to sleep
I remember walking around in a daze for a couple of weeks trying to come to terms with it. Plus being totally confused about what treatment to have. The advice given to me at the time was be guided by what your consultant says, as after all they are the experts. I thought about having a mastectomy but this was never mentioned by my consultant and I desperately wanted to come out of treatment at the other end looking as much like me as possible. I’m no expert, but having read up on it, a lumpectomy can be as successful as long as they have clear margins and check the lymph nodes. All this will be discussed with you and your treatment plan will be tailored for you, as we are all different. And once that treatment plan is in place, you will feel much better.
As Helena says, radiotherapy is very doable and you’re be fine.
It does feel a bit like being hit with a sledgehammer at first.Lots of warmth and support on here though and we all know how you feel. Radiotherapy is usually given over a course of three weeks. Most people I know have been fine on it but a bit tired.
Have been given a named breast nurse?They will be able to help you more because they have access to your record and are familiar with all the different types of breast cancer and treatments.
Please do try not to worry, it sounds like you are in very good hands. It is difficult for consultants to know how much to say at first until all tests are done because the results often dictate the treatment and not all patients want to have too much information at once. I did, and took a notebook to write it all down.
I am sure you will get a lot more information after your scan.The waiting is horrid. Like you, although I thought of other nasty possibilities based on family history, breast cancer was certainly not on my radar.
I don’t smoke or drink and have always cooked meals from scratch, all this healthy living doesn’t seem to have done me much good.
Hi Dannya - if you need to have further breast tissue removed and are worried what will give you the best cosmetic outcome (quite rightly), I suggest you ask for a consultation with the plastic surgeon your breast consultant normally works with before you make a decision. I can’t promise you’ll get one but you can ask! The plastics specialist can advise on types of reconstruction following a mastectomy or whether any reconstruction/improvement could be attempted following a further lumpectomy and what would look best. If you have radiotherapy that also affects your options and outcomes - again to discuss with the breast surgeon and plastic surgeon. In particular implants can be problematic with radiotherapy, but that’s not to say that’s definitely not an option for you. Of course if you have a mastectomy, you may not need radiotherapy at all. I am soon having a mx with tummy tissue (DIEP flap) used to reconstruct the breast, following a failed lumpectomy and then radio after that but I have lymph node involvement.
Please be aware that although completely painless, the MRI can be a bit distressing because you have to lie in a tube listening to what sounds like car alarms and other loud weird noises for about 30 minutes. You have to try to zone out if you can! But it does give a good picture of what is going on which is important to inform next steps.
I am sorry you have this so young. I am 46 and like you did not think I was at risk at this age. Since being diagnosed I have come across so many young and otherwise healthy women with this disease. I think we have to try to accept that it is random and we have just been unlucky. Easier said than done I know! But your healthy lifestyle will help with your recovery.
