March 07 I had my milk ducts removed for a ongoing problem after my Son, when results came back I had DCIS they gave me 2 choices nipple removal or full mast, at that time was 36 so I opted for just nipple off on the understanding if not clear enough margins I would have to have full mast, which is what I had in May, to go onto having a silicon implant in Dec. I have now requested a risk reducing mast, my counciller (hospital proto) suggested I talk to other ladies in same position my breast care nurse recommended this site, as she doedn’t think a face to face meet would be constructive. So is there any ladies out there in the same posibtion. I also sometime feel a bit of a fraud as when I see my breastcare nurses they always remind me that I have ONLY had DCIS not full blow cancer, I have still lost my breast!
Hi there, I’ve been advised to have a Risk Reducing Mastectomy by my Consultant and I find it very difficult to aget my head around such a traumatic surgery when I too ONLY have DCIS. It just seems so drastic.
Hi there, thank you for your reply. is this in the breast you have the DCIS in or the other? When I had my 1st mast I was only in hospital 3 days post opp and back to work after 2 weeks. I never looked at it as drastic just as a blessing it was caught before it turned into cancer. May I ask how old you are?
The Breast I have DCIS in. I’m 45 and I had LCIS at 43.
Hi, thanks for replying, I noticed a feed back on one of the other discusions that you are scared to death, I know its easy to say but try not to worry too much. I haven’t been on this site long but reading some of the other comment there are many ladies giving lots of care and support. do you find it helps you coming on here? Hope to keep in touch take care
Amanda x
Hi hironsamanda,
i too ONLY had dcis,but it is still very scary,i dont think the medical people fully understand how we feel.
i had dble risk reducing mastectomy 12 weeks ago and i feel fine,so glad i did it now,at least i dont have to worry about it coming back anymore.
zsazsa
Hi Zsazsa,
thanks for your reply, this may seem mad but I have never felt scared, friends and family think I am very brave to take this choice, I like you see it that there is no more worrying, I want control of my life back it seems to have been on hold forever (18mths).
My 1st mastectomy caused a deep scare due to an infection so they have offered me lipobodysculpture to fill the indentation at same time as my mastectomy, that is the only thing I am apprehensive about.
Hi Hironsamanda,
lipobodysculpture sound fun!?
cant wait to lipo myself as my new boobs are so big,they promised me they would be smaller than before and now im bigger!got to wait a while longer tho as only 3 months ago today.
you sound like you have had it rough tho,but like me at no tome was i scared to have the op.my family thought i was crazy,but they all understand now they can see how well i recovered and that i have no worries,apart from complaining about the size of them!!
zsazsa
Hi Zsazsa,
I haven’t had a good time but nothing gets me down, cann’t let it I’ve got 2 small children (6 & 4) and they pick up on anything.
I wish mine was a little bigger then it is! my original size was a G cup, I will be lucky if I can fill a D. I also have the choice of maybe a tummy tuck I could come out looking like Jordan (ha ha). Thank you for your comments they are very encouraging it’s nice to relate to other ladies in the same position. Take care
Amanda
Hi amanda
I had a tummy tuck,that was the best bit! and yes i feel like jordan! i was never happy having a large chest,i suppose we all want what we cant have,ive got curly hair too and hate it,im always straightening it!!!
zsazsa
I had my Mastectomy after finding high grade DCIS in June last year.
I found that I really wasn’t given a choice by either the Oncologist or by my BC nurse. I was simply told the DCIS was high grade and that my only option was a full Mastectomy of my left breast.
I had the full backing from my husband and my family, in fact, my husband was more scared than me, he just said “Get Rid”, but like you say, it is your breast and it makes you stop and think a little.
My BC nurse didn’t refer to it as ‘only DCIS’ she did refer to it has BC, but with an excellent chance of survival, so to be honest, I went with the flow, but I often wonder if I did the right thing.
Could my breast have been saved? I don’t know.
Everything points to Mastectomy as the best option.
I haven’t had a recon yet…but I’m pretty certain I will in a couple of years from now. I’m on Tamoxifen for the next five years, so I want to make sure my remaining breast will be OK before I go in for a recon.
I wish you well.
Linda xx
Hi Linda
thanks for your reply, how are they treating your other breast will they keep an eye on you with mammograms and scans then? I would never doubt which way you went it was the right decision at that time and the future. Take care of yourself.
Amanda
Hi Amanda,
Yes, I’m going for tests and check-ups in the middle of May, so I know I am being looked after…hopefully.
Thanks again
Linda
I have high grade DCIS and have been advised to have a Mastectomy and reconstruction.I had a grade 3 tumour removed from my other breast last January and since then, I have been on an anti-breast cancer diet, as well as doing daily exercise and getting rid of as many chemicals and plastics from my environment as I can.I also take tamoxifen. I am wondering whether the steps I have taken will hold back the DCIS .I would be grateful to hear from anyone who has taken the ‘wait and see’ approach. Thanks
I am new to the forums,but I was diagnosed back in April.Only now am I getting to grips with things,now that I know the way forward means a bi lat mastectomy.Since April,I have had 3 wle and each time another area of DCIS or LCIS was found.I have also had so many biopsies,including a vacuum biopsy,which hurt a lot!! I must say that I have nothing but praise for the team at Exeter hospital,they are so caring,both to me and my husband.We both know we have a long road ahead,but we will all get there together.
hi poshtractor l coulddnt help but notice you are having treatment in exeter hospital i myself have been having treatment at exeter in devon, i guess this is the same hospital.i am 2 half weeks post op for a masectomy with immediate reconstruction with inplant with ld flap for widespread high grade dcis im 26 and feel fairly alone i am now thinking it may be wise for me to have the so called good breast removed my own opinion so i can move forward
well you prob think why i intializing this at you just wanted to point out that your right we all do get there together no matter what it must of been such a worry for you since april but im so pleased that somebody else can now see the road ahead and i wish you all the best but your not alone on here thtasb why i come on here it seems to ease my nerves in a starnge way xxx
Hi i was diodnosed with dcis in july 07 had 2 ops to try save my right breast plus radium, to be toll 2weeks ago its back and the radium hasnt worked. Imn going in hospital 8th jan to have breast removed and ld flap reconstruction. Im findig it hard to deal with and because they have been wrong twice im really scared the ar not going to get it this time although i no they wouldnt reconstruct if they thought they wouldnt. Its very hard to understand y remove when only dcis.
angie
Hi Hironsamanda - I was diagnosed with high grade non invasive DCIS Jan 2002 at 42 years and my only option was a mastectomy as it was in three places. I had an immediate becker implant recon. I was never offered risk reducing mast on other breast and in fact was told at the time that I had the same chance of developing BC in the other breast as any other woman who hadn’t had BC! I have regular check ups and mammograms on normal breast and so far, touch wood all OK. Only probs I had was with ruptured implant this year which showed on MRI scan. I had a DIEP flap three weeks ago and am really happy with my new boob.
From time to time I do worry that I could get BC in normal breast but we get the best treatment - regular check ups and being really vigilant with checking ourselves.
I can’t believe those breast cancer nurses said you “only” had DCIS! You’ve been through more than most women and lost a breast - how brave is that!
Carolec
Hi, Just wondering how all you ladies are getting on now. I am deciding wether or not to have risk reducing mastectomy after 23mm high grade DCIS one side 2 years ago & 4mm DCIS the other side 6 months ago ( both with clear margins) Would like to hear from you.
Love Monkapap