Firstly to introduce myself my name is Rhian, I’m 44 with 4 daughters and on Thursday was diagnosed with pre-invasive dcis, which I gather is the best of a bad deal. I’ve already had the lump removed in order to get the diagnosis as 2 biopsies couldnt conclusively diagnose it.
Tomorrow I am having a wider excision to hopefully get clear margins. Then comes another agonising wait for the results again. If I have a clear margin then I will have radiotherapy if there aren’t clear margins then I will be having a mastectomy.
This has been going on since February when I first went to my gp having felt the lump, so it feels like it’s been a lifetime already and at every step, another hurdle is in front of me.
Hi Rhian and welcome, I know it’s an odd saying as like the rest of us you don’t really want to be here but we like to wish you a warm welcome anyway ? Yes DCIS is the best of a bad bunch! Hopefully tomorrow will be your last op, wishing you all the best Xx Jo
Hi, op went OK, I’m staying in overnight as I’ve got a drain in until tomorrow.
Registrar told me it was borderline low to intermediate grade dcis, I though the Consultant said that on Thursday but was afraid it was wishful thinking. All in all, it’s the best of a pretty shifty deal isn’t it
am feeling really down today, I’m a lot more sore and swollen this time, and just feel like crying all the time. When and how will this nightmare end xxx
Im sorry your feeling so low Rhian, it feels never ending when you are going through it all but you shouldnt have to be in pain so make sure you take plenty of painkillers regularly and rest as much as possible, it will get better love, a year ago i didnt think so either but yesterday i had my 1st year all clear !! Sending you a big hug ?
Hi Rhian. I had my second biopsy today and until the radiographer said DCIS all anyone had said was precancerous . I am sitting at home, scared, shaky and because I keep telling myself it is a fuss about nothing, obviously in denial. From all I read they seem very keen to remove rather than treat and this terrifies me. I have kept it to myself and don’t know if that was stupid or wise. Being on my own I don’t really want to bother friends who all have their own troubles … And will someone please tell me if this is cancer or is that a question for the surgeon who I am seeing next week? Sorry if I sound confused and muddled but I am …
Hi Ngstar, I’m sorry you are in this position, I am slightly further down the route than you so hope I can help.
Dcis is the earliest form of breast cancer. It is pre-invasive, and the way it was described to me was that the cancer cells are there in the breast, but as yet are too immature to spread or invade other tissues. It is difficult to determine if or when the cells will become able to do so.
I had a wide local excision (WLE) in the hope that the area of dcis would be removed along with an area (margin) of normal tissue around it. In my case, we didn’t get a clear margin and therefore I am going to be having a mastectomy. Assuming all goes well with that and there are no nasty surprises on pathology, I will need no further treatment apart from regular screening on my other breast. Had I not needed the mastectomy, I would have been offered radiotherapy.
It’s taken me a while to mentally get to the position where I am OK with my situation. It could have been a lot worse on the spectrum of breast cancer diagnoses.
I hope I’ve given you some clarity, if I can help further please let me know xxxx
Hi there. My breast surgeon says DCIS is definitely a cancer. And I have had cancer. Like others have said if it’s pure DCIS it has not spread. Mine was widespread and I had a mastectomy and reconstruction a month ago. If I’d had a lumpectomy I would’ve needed radiotherapy. But because of the size it wasn’t ever an option for me.
Your meeting with your surgeon will hopefully explain more and help you. You do need someone to support you through this x