Waiting for test results are the absolute pits. You really have to try to stay in the moment as best you can and not cross any bridges until you come to them.
How much tissue is removed very much depends on the size of your DCIS/tumour. Women with small breasts sometimes go straight to mastectomy as a lumpectomy is too disfiguring.
I had a wide local excision, a re-excision for margins, and after chemo, a double mastectomy and reconstruction. Click on my name to read my bio for details. Strictly speaking the removal of my left breast was prophlactic. But as my risk of another breast cancer was 26% - 44% I don't regard it as anything other than necessary.
You need to be really clear in your head about the decision, on your emotions, the psychological impact and the medical statistics. Talk to your breast surgeon, counsellors, yourself, your partner, friends etc. Really stress test the decision.
Let us know how you get on.
