Hi again CJ,
I too had widespread DCIS...this is cell mutation/s in one or more ducts. In my case there were two ducts affected, and the measurement is taken from the outside edge of one to the outside edge of the other. In my case the cancer cells themselves were tiny, but they were 7cm apart. If there had been just one, they would have done a lumpectomy, followed by radiation treatment. Dcis does mean that it hnt spread outside the duct, but depending on the grade, it's more or less risky, mine was high grade, the most 'active' so to speak. If they had taken the whole 7cm area affected n me, I would have had a massive chunk of my brest removed...not a good option.
Sometimes the DCIS is found to have broken out of the duct, so to speak, this is why they test the lymph nodes...sometimes when they do the op they find there are other cancer cells that are hidden behind the DCIS, or in younger women, the tissue may be too dense to see. have you had a look at the DCIS info on this website, and has the hospital given you the booklet about it?
Nothing was showing in my mammogram/scan etc,but I had an op to check 4 lymph nodes nearest the top, the op was a SLNB. Luckily for me, they were clear. If I had had cancer cells in my lymph nodes, I'd probably have had a course of chemo to attack the cancer cells as well as having lymph nodes removed. In either case it should be possible to have your breast "refilled" at the time of your mx if you choose that option. I would have found it tough to be one sided! But people are different in how they feel. If there is just one lymph node with only a slight sign of cancer, it might not be necessary to remove them all. You should have a chance to have all the options and risks explained. you could phone the breastcare centre and ask for an urgent apptmt to see a nurse? Or with a psychologist? Or as others say, contact your GP and ask for urgent referral to another hospital, as is your right? ( But don't rely on GPs advice, few are really up on the treatment or even the quality of hospitals.) I felt very let down by GPs..I was told I knew a lot more than them, and asked for details of procedures.
In terms of small or large hospitals, I attended a small one initially, but they are restricted in the options they can offer you, so I had to transfer to another for the surgery. The top rate surgery if only available from really expert plastic surgeons, you see, but doing a mastectomy on its own can be done by surgeons with less training. It would have been easier to have started at the large hospital in the first place, as the transfer causes some delays. I was (too late) advised by a medical professional that for any major treatment one should always go to a teachig hospital, even if travel is a bit further.
Pm me if I can help any more directly, please don't beat yourself up about the way you feel, it's very natural to be flat, or limp or heavy or angry...it gets us in different ways. If you can't sleep, ask your GP for something to help, that's another natural effect!
Lots of love,
nonsuch
