I was diagnosed with Invasive ductal cancer with some DCIS in the margin. After a second recent op I have just been told that the margins are still not clear of DCIS. I need to have chemo soon to mop up the IDC and then have been given the choice of 2 surgeries. Either try to remove some more tissue followed by radiotherapy or a mastectomy but then wouldn’t need radio.Don’t know what to do for the best, any ideas from anyone would be really appreciated.
thanks jane
gosh i have no idea, I hope someone else comes along with some clues. i know stargazzerlilly has had lots of ops.
All I know is that I dont think I would let wether or not you are to have radiotherapy have too much wieght on the decision. I am not looking forward to the radiotherapy side effects, and i understand they are worse if you have had chemo. But it is eventually over.
So isnt it more to do with what happens if they dont get the margins next time, and what options there are for reconstructive surgery after several lumpectomies versus a masectomy.
I am probably going to get shot down in flames here by women who actually know what they are talking about.
There will be lots of advice on here soon, and the help line would be great tomorrow if you give them a ring to talk over all the options, they dont mind how long they spend explaining it all.
hello janeruth , i also had to have further surgery to get clear margins, my team managed to get clear ones after the 2nd op , you have to think what is best for you love, what is rite for one person is totally wrong for another, you have 2 choices and neither of them is easy , speak to your breast care nurse, get the pros and cons of both surgeries, and do what you feel is correct for you and you alone,xxx angie
I was diagnosed with DCIS in January of 2009. I had a lumpectomy and two excisions, and two positive margins. I had seven weeks of radiation because of the positive margins. I am now on Arimidex, so far I am considered to be in remission. For years and years my mammogram results came back with: no evidence of malignancy but because of brest density, there is not good clairity. At my lastest mammogram, I requested a molecular breast imaging exam. Still in remission, but I just don’t trust DCIS, it can be rather sneaky, I have found.