THis is my first posting. I wa diagnosed with DCIS in August and had Wire Guided excision and removal in September. The results came through that there were cancerous cells at the very bottom of the tissue removed so my consultant operated again in October to try again to get clear margins top and bottom and to remove 2 lymph nodes. I have been told all the cancer has gone (Grade 1) and the lymph nodes are clear, so am feeling very relieved, the confusion I have now is do I go for a 3rd op to try to get the clear margin at the bottom. My consultant advises this is only likely to be 20% successful. My DCIS is at the very bottom and the cancer did not show on any xrays or ultrasound or biopsies so do I go straight for a mastectomy/reconstruction or do nothing and hope I am in the 50% of women where cancer does not develop. Has anyone had a similar diagnosis, it seems such a huge decision to have a mastectomy when I no longer have cancer and it may never return…
So sorry you find yourself with this dilemma. I had a WLE and full axillary clearance, followed by further surgery to clear margins. This, in my case, seemed sufficient surgery. It was followed by 25 sessions of radiotherapy. I am now three years post-diagnosis. I’m puzzled that you now face a mastectomy - could they not do another “shave” of tissue to provide clear margins? Personally, I could take any amount of lumps being taken out but balked at having a full mastectomy. You may feel ‘happier’ having a mastectomy in the knowledge there is no room for doubt.
There are so many ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’ with this disease; so much depends on our individual diagnosis and the advice of our surgeons. I hope others can offer some advice and I wish you well.
AlexG
Thank you for your comments Alex, my consultant has agreed to operate for a 3rd time to take out a ‘‘bigger sliver’’, the shave he did last time did not get sufficient clear margins. He is still not hopeful that this will work but I wanted one last chance before mastectomy, I, like you, can take a 3rd op if it means a chance of keeping my breast.
He advises mastectomy is the only way to get 100% peace of mind that the DCIS has gone if op no. 3 does not work, DCIS seems far from straightforward. A mastectomy is certainly a last resort for me.