Seems to me from reading these boards that DCIS is just as devastating as any other type of cancer. ALthough you are told its treatable it probably wont turn into anything for years if ever, people are bening given mastectomies, when others with tumours outside the ducts are given lumpectomies. Its so confusing
Yes I think that any diagnosis of cancer may be devastating to the indiviudal and having to have a mastectomy is terrifying for many women. The surgical treatment for DCIS (often mastectomy) may indeed be more ‘drastic’ than for some kinds of invasive breast cancer.
But no in other ways DCIS is not as serious as other kinds of breast cancer. The worse thing about having breast cancer in my book is that I’m now terminal and am going to die. My mastectomy was a minor event in this trauma.
Women who are diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer at onset (anout 10-15% of all diagnoses) often don’t have lumpectomies, let alone mastectomies.) Its not breast surgery but death which is the truly awful thing about breast cancer for many of us…and chemotherapy and ormone treatments aren’t a doodle either.
Don’t know where you’re at in your experience horsemad…yes it is all frightening and confsuing…but hope you will find your own way of dealing with whatever is happening to you.
best wishes
Jane
Hi Horsemad,
I had mx 3 years ago after dx of DCIS. Seems to depend on how widespread it is, and what grade. Mine was fairly widespread and was grade three, so I was offered lumpectomy followed by rads, or mastectomy straight away. as my surgeon explained that many women having lumpectomies for DCIS often have further surgery if the margins aren’t clear, and can end up with a mastectomy anyway, I decided to go the whole hog straight away.
Good luck with whatever you do
Silver
My experience is very similar to that of Silver’s. Had grade 3 DCIS and opted for immediate mastectomy as I was aware lumpectomies often don’t clear the extent of the carcinoma.
Now 7 months and one new boob on (reconstruction at the same time as mastectomy) and I’ve never regretted the decision. Whole hog seemed the best thing at the time.
Good luck.
Lizzie
also similar experience to other ladies.high grade DCIS and widespread in leftand not given any real choice of treatment.had immed recon withLDflap and expander implant 3 months ago.glad to eliminate any possibility as far as poss.Also not needed any other treatments so feeling quite well considering amount of surgery i had.each person needs to make the best decision for them about surgery and recon.best of luck horsemad.let us know how you get on.
doreen
wish my surgeon had done both sides when i had mastectomy for lobular 2 yrs ago ,as now have to go back tomorrow for check up on right boob which is giving me trouble ,the likelyhood of reacurrance with lobular is surely a pointer to having both removed if requested by the patient ,after all its our bodies and we have to go through all the stress of worriying if it will come back . lynn
was similar to grade three 3.5 cm but i was told i was having a mast they didn’t say there was a choice
I was DCIS with a very small area intermediate grade. I would have gladly had a mastectomy if recommended but my surgeon said no. At the moment, I am pleased I followed his advice and if it comes back, I will have a mastectomy then.