Just diagnosed

@Claudia21 hi. I wasnt given a choice as my dcis was too big for lumpectomy. Umm i guess  im glad not to have had rads. I wouldnt hav chosen mastectomy willingly i was draqgged kicking & screaming. But looking back im ok with it now. The recon boob is a good match  it was all over quickly and chance of recurrence is virtually nil as no breast tissue remains. They tell me I have Same chance as anyone else of getting a new one in the other side. I think its just all so confusing and overwhelming at the start for everyone. My surgeon said they dont give anyone tamoxifen aftet mx for pure dcis  because i did query why im not on it as a protection for my other side since my dcis was very high er + ??? @MaryAnnie . What a difficult choice to have to make. I hope all goes well for you. Xx Regarding mri i wasnt ofered mri my brother in law is a dr and he told me to ask for mri so i did. They did do it bc my bressts were very dense and ultrasound didnt show anything and mammo only picked up 2 small areas of calcifications . I dont think they wouldve done it if there was only one area. they dont offer as it costs about $1000 and isnt always reliable. It overestimated  my dcis at 9 cm !!!! I will also have mri at my yearly checks for next 5 years.  Interesting how differently we deal with things. My approach was to become a hermit. I have only told a few people even my best friends had no idea what i went through this year. I am finding im only telling people now as the trauma is fading and new normal setting in. Silly me cancer the crab hiding under her rock!! Hugs to all xx

@MaryAnnie  Oh. I know that can't have been easy for you and I hope you have good and caring support around you to embrace you and let you express that grief and fear. XX

@MaryAnnie i had a farewell boobie party and wrote a poem bidding farewell. It was funny and sad as well.
Food was boob themed. And it was dress up. I had my bras hanging up everywhere and wore something that showed off the girls in all there glory. Just a bit of fun before the big chop. My husband thought it strange...but it helped me and quite frankly got my mind off surgery. I also took nude pics of the girls.  

@Claudia21 Before the lumpectomy, my BS said RT may or may not be required. After first path results post-surgery, it was confirmed DCIS with no signs of micro invasion. 10mm. But I will need RT for 5 weeks.  No need hormone treatment (still don't know why). No need chemo.

After much thinking and agonising, I have decided not to do the RT. Will do a double mx plus reconstruction due to strong family history of bc and increased risk of recurrence / new primary bc. Will meet with the ps this Monday to discuss the surgery. This morning I had a good cry to say goodbye to my boobs. But I know that this is the right decision. Scared but soldiering on....

@Vallerina I wondered knowing what you know now about the journey with your mastectomy (but no rad or hormone therapy) would you have chosen that if you could have done a lumpectomy +/- radiation and hormone therapy? 

HI MarryAnnie
It's the unknown that is a concern. What did you treatment team recommend for you post lumpectomy for the DCIS?

@Vallerina Glad you are doing well and have the mx behind you. I was also diagnosed with high grade DCIS. BS recommended lumpectomy. After lumpectomy, path report came back, actually there were 2 DCIS near each other and I didn't get clear margins. So next day it was back for another surgery. Yesterday I was told I had clear margins. Wonder why no one ever suggested MRI before surgery. Now I am wondering if there are more in there which was left behind.

Hi Vallerina. Glad to hear you're doing well and thanks for shining some light. I'm looking forward to being at the point you are of acceptance and moving forward.

Hi claudia. I had high grade dcis. The week b4 lumpectomy i requested mri.much bigger than they thought.  It showed 70 mm high grare dcis . Nambor said sorry we can no longer do lumpectomy its mastectomy for u. 2 days b4 surgery!! I then had to go to royal briz on new referral and wait again. Diagnosed 6th jan had mastectomy on 27th march. Was freaking out at the time. Never heard of dcis had healthy lifestyle etc total shock. I then had aeroform expander 3 months and an implant was put in on 4th july. Didnt get to pick the doctirs as it was public system but totally happy with everything putting it  in perspective. Today i  tried on all my old bra collection (lingerie freak) and i only had to chuck about 6. I was in my bikini swimming in whitsundays on the weekend feeling totally confident. Good thing is pure dcis is not invasive meant no chemo or rads no tamoxifen. I count my blessings every day despite losing my beautifulboob so much to b thankful for. My dcis was huge and aggressive but had not spread. Thank god. I am waiting to go back for a nipple recon now they offered lift of other natural boob to match implant side all on public system but i have decided not to do thatthe difference is minimal. My point is it is a terrible shock i was newly engaged at time ofdiagnosis felt the world was ending but hav now found a new gratitude and come to terms with it all. All private drs i asked for 2nd opinion said public system is best. Hugs vallerina xx