It’s new so I’m new
Hi everyone, I’ve been diagnosed with DCIS on October 3rd. Left side. By my next appointment on the 22nd I’m supposed to decide on whether to have a lumpectomy or mastectomy. And then surgery is m...
Forum Discussion
Hi@FreckledGalaxy
It can all be very fast - i saw my GP about a slightly sore breast on Wednesday, surgeon on Friday, diagnosis confirmed the following Tuesday and surgery the following Friday - 10 days in all.
I only had a choice between a partial mastectomy and a full mastectomy, so I found it relatively easy to go for the full mastectomy. You need information from your surgeon about type of cancer, etc to help your decision. As you are no doubt finding, there is a lot of variation in cancer type, treatment and options, so what someone else has had or done doesn't always help. A lot of the information provided already will assist you, but you may need to put together a list of critical questions for your surgeon which will help you decide. Having your say about your body is important, but right at the beginning nearly everyone feels completely overwhelmed, and lacking in information. That's why a list - and another pair of ears to accompany you for your next appointment - is really helpful.
If you decide on a mastectomy you may be able to choose between immediate or deferred reconstruction. You don't need to have reconstruction straight away (or at all), which will give you more time to think about options.
If you are contemplating a double mastectomy, the important thing is to get as much information as possible as to what your risks are of cancer in the other breast. This too is very variable. In my own case, I decided not to remove the other breast, as I have no family history of cancer, no worrisome gene (at least not one that's been identified yet!) and my oncologist thinks that a recurrence or 2nd cancer is more likely (if at all, it may never happen) elsewhere in my body rather than my remaining breast. I just had my 6 year test, all clear, so feeling pretty good about his advice so far! Again, you may consider a second mastectomy at a later date - in the first few weeks, you are scarcely in a position to know how you will feel about losing one let alone two breasts. Information you receive may result in you feeling confident that treating one breast is sufficient. But if, as some people have experienced, you suffer anxiety over a period of time, you need to take that into consideration too.
It's very hard but if you can, try dealing with one thing at a time. That way you can concentrate better on the decision in hand. If you don't have to make a decision yet, there often is no problem about waiting until you can give that problem the attention it needs. Keep asking questions till you get clear answers - there are no silly questions in this game. Deep breaths, you can do this. Best wishes.
It can all be very fast - i saw my GP about a slightly sore breast on Wednesday, surgeon on Friday, diagnosis confirmed the following Tuesday and surgery the following Friday - 10 days in all.
I only had a choice between a partial mastectomy and a full mastectomy, so I found it relatively easy to go for the full mastectomy. You need information from your surgeon about type of cancer, etc to help your decision. As you are no doubt finding, there is a lot of variation in cancer type, treatment and options, so what someone else has had or done doesn't always help. A lot of the information provided already will assist you, but you may need to put together a list of critical questions for your surgeon which will help you decide. Having your say about your body is important, but right at the beginning nearly everyone feels completely overwhelmed, and lacking in information. That's why a list - and another pair of ears to accompany you for your next appointment - is really helpful.
If you decide on a mastectomy you may be able to choose between immediate or deferred reconstruction. You don't need to have reconstruction straight away (or at all), which will give you more time to think about options.
If you are contemplating a double mastectomy, the important thing is to get as much information as possible as to what your risks are of cancer in the other breast. This too is very variable. In my own case, I decided not to remove the other breast, as I have no family history of cancer, no worrisome gene (at least not one that's been identified yet!) and my oncologist thinks that a recurrence or 2nd cancer is more likely (if at all, it may never happen) elsewhere in my body rather than my remaining breast. I just had my 6 year test, all clear, so feeling pretty good about his advice so far! Again, you may consider a second mastectomy at a later date - in the first few weeks, you are scarcely in a position to know how you will feel about losing one let alone two breasts. Information you receive may result in you feeling confident that treating one breast is sufficient. But if, as some people have experienced, you suffer anxiety over a period of time, you need to take that into consideration too.
It's very hard but if you can, try dealing with one thing at a time. That way you can concentrate better on the decision in hand. If you don't have to make a decision yet, there often is no problem about waiting until you can give that problem the attention it needs. Keep asking questions till you get clear answers - there are no silly questions in this game. Deep breaths, you can do this. Best wishes.