Since being diagnosed in April with DCIS and being told it was precancerous and very treatable so I shouldn’t worry too much my mind has been in a whirl. I have gone from a feeling that I was very fortunate to constantly worrying now that I have found out more about it. Yes the survival rate is very good but there is a 25-30% chance it might recur either as DCIS or invasive DCIS if you have a lumpectomy. Some women have to undergo a mastectomy because of the size or spread of their DCIS and some women have to have chemotherapy because some invasive cancer has been found as well as DCIS. After a WLE and a further re-excision to obtain clear margins I have just had my planning CT scan and now have to have 3 weeks of radiotherapy as the pathology report said high grade DCIS which is the one most likely to recur. The oncologist said with the surgery and radiotherapy the recurrence risk was now 15%. Along the way there has been all the worry waiting on results from biopsies and from one operation then another, an oncologist visit, a CT scan and now the prospect of 3 weeks of radiotherapy. I know lots of other women have been given a worst diagnosis and have had to endure much worse treatment but I feel a DCIS diagnosis is also very stressful and I only wish I could stop worrying so much.
I know exactly how you feel. I’d really recommend that you go to your consultant or your own dr and ask for some counselling to help you . It is a terrible terrifying time but there are some great resources out there to help and support you . When I get overwhelmed I take a breathe and remember to take it step by step because it’s all out of our hands really . xxxxxx
Hi 76Ag,
I am really sorry to hear you are going through this stressful time but I am glad you are already getting support from some of our users.
If you would like to talk you can call our helpline on 0808 800 6000 who will be able to talk to you about any questions you have and offer a friendly ear.
The opening hours are below.
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Best wishes,
Lizzy