Got the results from my excisional biopsy on xmas eve of all days!!! I have low grade DCIS, but the bad news is because of my small chest size (34AAA) my consultant has recommended a double mesectomy with reconstruction. In a way relieved at this result because it could have been a lot worse. This is nothing that some surgery cannot fix, as I know some ppl on here are not quite so lucky. Still quite a shock to actually hear it and come to terms that I will be losing my breasts.
Determined to forget about it as much as I can tomorrow though! Going to have a good Xmas as possible!
So sorry you have had to join us here - and that you had to receive the news on xmas eve!
As you quite rightly say, it is nothing that surgery cannot fix - I had a mastectomy in November and whilst yes it does take some coming to terms with, it hasn’t been nearly as bad as I had imagined.
I do hope you manage to have a lovely day tomorrow
Hi Melanie
I’m sorry to read of your recent diagnosis. You may find BCC’s resource pack helpful which has been designed for those newly diagnosed. The pack is free of charge as are all our publications. If you would like a copy just follow the link below: breastcancercare.org.uk//content.php?page_id=7514
Also, If you feel you need to talk to someone in confidence then please give the helpline a call, the staff here are all either breast care nurses or people who have personal experience of breast care issues. The number is 0808 800 6000 and the lines open Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm and Saturdays 9am - 2pm.
The line will re-open again after Christmas on Thursday 27 December.
Hi there, I was diagnosed on 21st December. i’m not quite sure yet on what type of cancer/tumor it is but i’ve got my re-op on 28th. I really don’t know what to expect. I’m also a 32a facing south after 3 kids. The breast care nurse said as she hasn’t seen my boobies just yet she won’t be able to tell me much till friday. All she did say was because i as small there will be a visible disfigurement. I’m so confused?
Firstly, welcome to the site, I am sorry to hear of your recent diagnosis and can appreciate that you are feeling confused at the moment. As you can see in the post above Sam has given some information about our new diagnosis resource pack which you may also find helpful. Please also use the helpline details above if you feel it would help to talk things over with someone in confidence.
So sorry to hear of your recent diagnosis. It was 3 years on the 21st Dec I had mine and saw the Surgeon Christmas eve and I can imagine what a whirl it must all be for you ~ its such a difficult time. I can only tell you how I coped ~ and we are all so different ~ I concentrated on a day at a time [bite sized chunks] worrying only about the most imminent appointments and not thinking of next week or “what ifs” I was so lucky to have a fantastic McMillan breast care nurse who was always there for me. I wish I had found this forum then though as I am sure it would have helped. Take care Malanie and Sukes.
Hi there,
I too got my diagnosis on xmas eve and registered the same day.
Well I suppose now I have got Christmas out of the way I had better start thinking about this, I’m faced with a dilema, my consultant has given me the option to have a lumpectomy but as the lump is so close to the nipple I am losing the nipple either way and he isnt sure how much of the breast I am going to be left with until they get in there. The diagnosis is grade one 1cm ductal invasive tumor (or thats what is says in my pack!!!) so he has said I an choose between a lumpectomy with loss of nipple and reconstrition to include a new tattoo of a nipple at later date ( i knew paying all that national insurance would pay off one day) and having my left breast reduced and lifted to match the duff one or I can have a full mastectomy on the right and reconstruct it at a later date. Initially I thought save what I could but now I am thinking if I get rid of it all perhaps I would worry less about re-occuring in the future.
So therie is the dilema. Any thoughts???
Hope everyone is doing well, I seem to be swinging from ok to blubbing for no reason (well apart from the obvious that is) I feel a bit more positive today, rang the insurance companies and mortgage people so feel like I’m back in control a bit.(ISH)
Magz175 - Thanks for letting me know the masectomy wasnt as bad as expected, cause I have the habit of expecting the worse and getting myself worked right up about stuff.
Annelee - Thanks for the thoughts
Sukes - Before I was even told they couldnt take a clear margin I was worried about the visible disfigurement if I required a lumpectomy. So I’d already decided if was bad news I would opt for a masectomy. I think long term this would mentally be a much better option for me. Will take time to come to terms with my real breasts going but I would have been devistated and lose all confidence if I ended up taking an option that would leave me any smaller. Ppl are different though and what is a good option for one person is different for another. Its terrible feeling confused and I feel lucky in that I am certain as to what I want. All the best for your reop tomorrow, let me know how it goes.
Rosieposie - Thanks for the advise. Im one of lifes worriers and such a forward planner, but yeah ure right day at a time, try to live in the moment.
Custard - I find it hard being diagnosed on xmas eve as had already arranged to go visiting family that day before I got my consultation appointment. We spent all xmas eve out and about and hubby and I didnt really get time to talk about how we were feeling until xmas day itself! It is tough making a choice on what u want cause u know the dicision u make now will effect the rest of ure life. Personally i thought, double masectomy gets rid of any chances of reoccerance (as aunt and gran had breast cancer so worried mine is heredatry) plus they should b able to get an even reconstruction for both breasts to match. Again everyone is different and you have to do what mentally you think will be better for u in the long run.
So glad its not just me thats like that, feel like some kinda manic depressive, going from like u say swinging from OK to bubbling the nxt. Guess we all have so many emotions to deal with. Glad ure having a positive day and hope u have many more to follow.
Sam - Thanks for letting me know about the resource pack and the support tel number. I have my pack ordered
So sorry you have both had to join us and recieved your diagnosis at such a time…[not that anytime is good!!]
You will both find alot of support on here.
Mel: I know this will be a Christmas we wont forget in a hurry. I spent the whole trip home from the hospital ringing people and saying I was fine and actually said to my husband (between calls) there will be loads of women out there getting the same news as me today and here we are. I didnt actually think about anything until last night after we got home from my sisters house. Is’nt it amazing what you can do on auto pilot.
Karen: the support has been amazing . I have been blown away and moved to laughter and tears. Usually at the same time(not a good look!!)
Found a really good web site today called “about cancer - Cancer backup” that gave me loads of info about the whole thing including photos of reconstructions and explaining a bit more about the tattoo, radiotherapy the whole thing really. I am seeing my GP tomorrow and am going to ring my hospital contact too to see if the fact that I have a metal rod in my back because of scoliosis may cause problems if they want to reconstruct using muscle coz if thats the idea I thing a full mastectomy may not be the right choice. Anyway think I may be getting ahead of myself here. I have got to get the op out of the way and the radiotherapy and possible chemo b4 any of that starts. I have until the 2nd Jan to decide as thats when my pre op check and consent forms will be done.
Back to work tomorrow after the xmas break, I had 12 over for dinner on xmas day and we did it all again at one of my sisters yesterday so it will be a bit of a rest going back to my desk. I realised no matter how much you love your family its only when they are sleeping under the same roof as you again do you understand why you left home in the first place!! My mum has gone really weird. Normally she is all “you’ll be fine and dont worry” and now she has gone all "Oh my poor baby (I’m 39!! ) and its freaking me out a bit to say the least. Even when was having my back done and in a full body cast I still got told to do my Saturday job so where all this has come fromis beyond me.
Thanks again for the support and just a quick question is a MRI and/or a CT scan normal and essential? I am a bit worried as I have a 2ft metal rod grafted to my spine and so it rules them out. The hospital havent mentioned anything yet and would hate to blow up some machinery or myself for that matter!!
Well off to bed to stare at the ceiling again. Love and luck to all. S xx
Just logged on. all I can say is that the support from this forum is great. Its given me hope. I was advised by friends and family not to go on the net at it will only worry me but fortunately i found this web site which has been a great support. Until the 26th December I have done nothin but cry. I’ve always associated cancer with death but thats not the case. The nurse suggested to me a lumpectomy but been so small breasted and with them totally deflated the disfigurement is going to be pretty obvious. She also suggested that if they don’t remove all effected tissue i might have to come back for a second op. My personal view is to reduce the risk get rid of the lot - this will only give me more piece of mind and re-assurance that I’ve done the right thing.
I’ve made alist of all the questions I think I need to ask for tomorrow and I’m trying to stay positive but its so hard. I just pray to god he looks over all of us and helps every one of us get through this!
Girls if this helps ~ I had my chemo first due to the size of my ILC and opted for a mast~ 3 months after chemo, this was followed by 15 rads and then in may 06 a prophylactic mast on the healthy side with tissue expanders. I had my last surgery a year ago and [touch wood] am fine. So you see it took a long time to think about and make my decisions.We are all different and must make our own choices of course guided by our medical teams so I wish you well. I agree Sukes with your friends and family not to look on the net ~ I didn’t until I was halfway through chemo but then I hadn’t found this place! the information here is sound and the forums facilitated by BCC it really is a comfort. As I said before ~ bite size chunks! I could only take in small amounts of info at a time! take care all of you
Rosemary x
Sorry to butt in here, but I was offered either a WLE with rads or a mastectomy with no rads after my initial biopsy. I knew absolutely zilch about bc, didn’t even know I had lymph nodes before surgery, when my bc nurse showed me a diagram. Wasn’t sure what to do - in tears, and turned to my husband and asked him - he said go for the WLE you can always go back for the mastectomy if required.
In my position, it was the right decision, although I had lymph node spread and had to go back a month later for total axillary resection. I was a 34A before the surgery, now a 38C with swollen breast, but at least I now have a cleavage! I had no deformity or reconstruction so guess I got off lightly.
We are all very different in where the tumour is, and the spread. I had a 2 cm invasive ductal tumour with associated DCIS intermediate, both comedo and cribriform, but at no time did my bc surgeon recommend a mastectomy after my initial WLE surgery. I would ask your surgeon is mastectomy really the only option?
I agree actually liz ~ these days they do try to preserve the breast if at all possible. Your husband is a wise man! I chose to have a mastectomy but it took a few months to get to that point. I am sure it was right for me but at the start my surgeon had hoped to shrink the tumor and then do a lumpectomy. I wish you well.
They are unable to preserve my breast because of my chest size. Consultant agreed that Im even smaller then a AA, so they r unable to remove enough breast tissue to get a clear margin. To be honest I prefer to go for the double masectamy anyway as my aunt and Gran both have had breast cancer so I would b just worried about it comming back if I didnt take this option.
Went to the hospital today and had my pre-op with the consultant. In my mind its good news. He has confirmed the tumor is a grade 1 Ductal - which apprarently is the most common one. this infomation they have obtained from the biopsy. I feel so relieved now as I now know what i’m dealing with. They’ve told me to go in on monday am to have a MRI scan to confirm the other breast is clear. I will then go in on Wednesday AM to have the results. Dependent on what the results are the op may be on both breasts but to be honest I’d rather have this B*t*h out than in.
Im also small breasted 32a(ish) so I don’t know how bad the disfigurement is going to be but i’m sure they can do something about it at a later stage if requested.
I’ve come back from the hospital with HOPE. I feel I can look to the future once again. I’m due to have the op on thursday so I just pray to god he keeps a watchful eye over me,
Mel - When i spoke to the consultant today he told me it doens’t make any difference if you have a lumpectomy or masectomy - Having a masectomy is not a preventative because it can still occur if u have a masectomy so just don’t make any rash decisions. Don’t be afraid to ask them to repeat a answer until you understand it clearly and you are totally sure about the answer given. I today took a list of 26 questions and the conusultant said it was like sitting a test. I even made him right the answers down. - ps where do u live?
I went back to work on Friday, thought a two day short week would be good. Didnt do much just sat at my desk and talked to people. After the initial “Oh my God Shonagh’s” were out of the way it was Ok and as I work with mainly women we had a good long chat about the lumpectomy/mastectomy issue and I am definatey veering towards the lumpectomy. I am a 36D so can afford to lose quite a bit and I am aware because of the nipple loss it will be considerably smaller but hey ho thats the way the cookie crumbles. The consultant said in the meeting to discuss my case they feel the lumpectomy option is the way to go for now as they think they are looking at grade one invasive ductal but as its so close to the surface the prognosis is very good especially as there is no history of any kind of cancer in the family(i’m the first!!!) and I’ve never smoked etc.
Sukes: I am booked in for my op on Tuesday the 8th so we will be just a couple of days apart. Got my pre op on Wednesday because of the Xmas/New Year break
Hope all goes well for you and no doubt we will be in touch on the other side(if not before). I am in the proces of writing questions as per your advice. Good luck Hun I will be thinking of you.
Mel: Hope you are OK I know I cant possibly feel exactly how you do but I have an idea but cant help thinking about you as we both got told on Xmas eve. I’m not sure if I’m still on auto pilot or not. Sometimes I think all these questions going round my head about choices and treatments are what is keeping me sane. At least its stopping me feeling too sorry for myself. I do have a bit of a weep every now and then but I just shout at myself.
Well have to go now. We are having friends over for dinner and I have wedding stationery to make (I run a side line in hand made wedding stationery and have an order to fill for the 15th Jan…Bad timing or what!!!). Phil(Hubby) has just announced we are going away next weekend to get me out of the house so we are off to the Lake District to give my nipple a farewell tour of Windermere.
The masectomy was what I feel is best for me. Consultant was fantastic and gave me a few options to choose from. A WLE was a non option as they couldnt remove enough tissue from around the lump cause of its location and my small chest size. The double masectomy will give me the best cosmetic results.
I live in Sunderland, where r u?
Custard - All the best for ure op on 8th Jan. Great that you have a trip planned, the lakes is such a lovely place. Were going to do the same thing and try to plan the odd days away for a nice distraction. I am off to a salsa dancing weekend in York on Sat with my friends which I cannot wait for that, maybe I will b able to forget about all this for just a little while.