Does all clear mean all clear?

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I had my mastectomy 4 weeks ago yesterday.

I had high grade DCIS to so I had a mastectomy and then given my results one weeks later.
They found some more low grade calcifications in the breast tissue, but nothing in the lymph nodes at all.

The nurse said I am now clear…I’m pretty certain she said…all clear…I don’t need radio or chemo, not too sure about Tamoxifen yet because I’ve not received the results of my hormone test.

So, does all clear mean …all clear, or are you really never …all clear of DCIS ?

Linda

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Hi Linda

All clear means all clear they have taken all the DCIS away and nothing has gone to the lymph nodes so it all should have gone. Your other breast will be at higher risk, as my surgeon put it it’s risk is the same as if it has a family history of bc. Always keep a check on the mastectomy area just in case it comes back but I believe this is rare. I had a high grade DCIS with microinvasion and I wasn’t given Tamoxifen - though I know some hospitals do. Radio is only given for WLE for DCIS. So that’s it all over with - except for regular checks.
Hope all goes well for you.
Love
Beverley

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I have a friend I met originally on line who was diagnosed with high grade DCIS which unfortunately did progress. She now has secondary breast cancer two years after the first diagnosis. Therefore although rare, DCIS isn’t always as benign as they think. Maybe they are unable to test all of it to see if it could have become invasive.

Mole

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Thank you Beverley.

Linda xx

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I had a mastectomy 7 weeks ago for DCIS, the cells were either intermediate or high grade, with no invasion.

I can understand your confusion as words like ‘cured’ were used in my case. The follow up treatments are to decrease the risk of developing the same in the other breast. I have been put on Tamoxifen, and they would also like me to have radiotherapy on my chest wall.

It is difficult to move on in your life, which the words ‘cured’ or ‘all clear’ implies, when you have such treatments looming over the horizon. I also feel when you find out you have to have a mastectomy all your adrenalin goes into coping with the practicalities of the operation, and the emotional aspects catch up with you a few weeks down the line. This happened to me too, I felt really down a few weeks ago, because everyone expects you to be happy, you are over the operation and you are cured!

All I can say is it is getting easier every day, the more you recover from the operation and get back to your more normal life, the more you can put it to the back of your mind. But it never completely goes away

Big hugs
Helfire

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I had a mastectomy last year following a diagnosis of DCIS and invasive BC. there was no lymph gland involvement. I’ve had chemo, rads and am now on tamoxifen. none of the medical staff involved in my care have ever talked of me now being “cured” or all clear. My consultant told me they will not say 100% absolutely that every trace of cancer has gone, because they can’t be that sure. He talks about “NED- no evidence of disease”. My prognosis is extremely good however it would seem there are no absolutes with cancer. My nurse has advised me that I should yhink in terms of the surgery having taken away the active cancer which is what I do.

Geraldine

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Thank you everyone for your thoughts on this subject, it really does help.

I did speak to a lady just before I went in for my operation, who had, had DCIS 10 years ago and had a mastectomy. She had been given my phone number by the Breast Cancer Care Association…so of course…I was speaking to a lady who had been through what I was going through, 10 years ago…that gave me hope.

I can honestly say, the fact that I have had a mastectomy has never bothered me. I just wanted this thing gone, out of me…etc.

In myself, I feel fine. Psychologically, I also feel fine. Nothing is going to stop me doing what I did before the breast was removed.

I go to see my specialist on July 24th, so taking on board everything that you good people have said in answer to my question…‘does all clear, mean all clear’…I will ask everything I need to and want to know.

Of course, reading up on DCIS, even on this site, the prognosis does seem good, so I just hope 10 years down the line and beyond, I will still be here living life to the full.

Thank you

Linda xx