I was diagnosed with HIgh Grade DCIS last July, had breast conserving Surgery, radiotherapy, and am now waiting to go back in to be “evened out”…
My biggest problem have been coping with peoples reactions when I say that, no, I did not have chemo, no, I have not lost my hair, and no, I did not have a mastectomy…If one more person tells me that I have been lucky…See, maybe I have but the last few months have still been hell for me…
I went to a local BC support group yesterday, hoping that maybe it would help, but got onto a table full of people that had either had full blown invasive cancer or were going through chemo, I felt so awkward…which is not really like me…
I think all I want is to know that there are other people out there that have had and are going through DCIS and maybe feel that they are having the same experiences?
I just really want to be able to put it to bed and move on…
Dear Jane
Please don’t feel a fraud. You have had cancer, it doesn’t matter that it wasn’t invasive, nor that you didn’t need chemo. Here is a link to a thread especially for those with DCIS/LCIS where you will find others in your situation. forum.breastcancercare.org.uk/t5/DCIS-LCIS/bd-p/4431
Hugs and best wishes
poemsgalore xx
Dear Jane
Please do not worry or feel you are a fraud you have had a frightful time - dcis requires surgery and sometimes depending on size, location spread will be either breast conserving lumpectomy or masectomy. It is not a walk in the park by any stretch of the imagination. You are not alone in the fact that so many people will tell you you are lucky - when the reality of it is you don’t feel lucky at all! Been there just recently having mx following diagnosis of high grade dcis which was 5cm and muli focal so had to have mx no other choice. Don’t feel lucky, only just stopped being in constant pain. Xxxx
I had the same diagnosis five years ago and needed a mastectomy. After that I needed no further treatment.
I know exactly how you feel - I regard my diagnosis and subsequent operation as having the risk of cancer removed, for me that’s what it was. What I have found over the years, is that ‘breast cancer’ is a very complex topic. You do find your own way, but it takes time.
Jane,have had DCIS twice.First time,14 years ago,had mastectomy with implant.Then Dx again,other side last summer…high grade,but tumour 15cms long.Yup,lucky to gave been caught,thank goodness for mammograms ,but hey,still gone through surgery,this time round,had implant in cancer side,and replaced the old one,which had twisted…8 months later,and 8 operations later,failed implants,now waiting fir DIEP…I know just say I have had breast cancer…take care.
Hi there
I am six weeks post mastectomy/reconstruction after having being diagnosed with the same. Only recently my ex asked why I didn’t have any further treatment - surely I needed at least radiotherapy?! He made me feel like I’d lied about having cancer. As if having a mastectomy wasn’t traumatic enough…
Hi. This is my first time on here but your post struck a chord with me. I was diagnosed with DCIS last year at age 38 so a big shock. I think I was, and maybe still am, in denial so it was me going round telling everyone how lucky I was and people telling me that I wasn’t because I’d got cancer!! I found that difficult because I was trying to minimise how bad it was but people kept telling me that it WAS really bad, even my Gp told me to prepare for my inevitable emotional breakdown! So I guess me and you have kind of had opposite experiences so maybe there’s a happy medium in there somewhere! In some ways we are lucky but in other ways it’s the scariest thing on earth to have any kind of cancer and it’s your choice how you choose to handle it! Sending you love and strength.