Hi @Blessed72 i had a mastectomy on my first dcis diagnosis. It Was 7 cm on its longest side and so extensive there was no possibility of saving the breast. I am a strong person but have to say i was very very scared at the time.
I had an expander put in at the same time as mastectomy then a few months later had an implant put in. There was a long delay between diagnosis and the first surgery overall it was probably the most traumatic experience ever. It hadnt spread so i didnt need any other treatments not even hormone therapy which left me in a strange position like " what just happened "??? i dont even have cancer and my breast is gone. I know i was extremely lucky it was found early and god knows how it got so big without busting out of the duct. But Its quite a brutal treatment . I understand your confusion. Now i am 2 years down the track my life is mostly back to normal. It seems overkill but i guess its all they have. Good luck with it it sux alright.