Last Tuesday I had my lumpectomy (wide incision). Yesterday I got my results. Well the are was bigger than first thought and a few of the convicts had escaped (now its invasive) and they aren't happy with the margins on the superior side. The goods news is that it looks like they got all the convicts in the procedure, but now the discussion will be further treatment. Because of the margins they want to go back cut out some more and do a first node biopsy. I have asked for a scan (MRI) so they can get a better picture hopefully, I am deciding do I just bite the bullet and get a mastectomy or just go in for my surgery and hope that this time they got it all and that no more little convicts are out and about. I know they plan to do radiation after, and that this will get the convicts if this is the case.Has anyone had a similar experience to me, is a mastectomy an overkill? Is having the MRI worth it does it really show if there are any more areas especially if its as small as they say it is, should I just go straight to surgery?

Hi @Blister For what it's worth, no-one is going to stare or ask questions. I know it's something we all worry about, but in my experience it just doesn't happen. People stare at ginormous boobs on full display, but if that is not your usual presentation you won't find life any different, regardless of what option you take. I've got the rattiest set of 'foobs' ever, and in 15 years of public change rooms at pools and gyms no-one has ever commented. Not once. Mxx

Well my surgeon phoned, even though the MRI and ultrasound suggests the nodes are clear she wants to do the sentinel node biopsy, I have told her I want the mastectomy, I don’t want to have another wide excision with the possibility more has to go, and I don’t want to wait and see what the 2 other areas do in 6 months time. I’m happy with my decision, will wait and do the reconstruction next year, as there is still a possibility of me having to have radiation therapy.so next week I’m booked in

@Blister. I think if we have been diagnosed with DCIS we are by far the 'luckier' group of ladies as the rotten sod did not venture too far around our body and a mastectomy, whilst not the prettiest, does mean that they can quickly get the blighter off and away. Like @Fraser I have only one boob and as droopy as she is I have no set plans to go through more surgery to have a matching set as she'd also need a nip and tuck. I prefer to count my blessings and get on with my life. No-one seems to notice even when I am braless and throughout a recent long stay in the sunnier climate of Qld I just seemed to be one of a crowd. I agree with the comment by @Zoffiel that unless you want to have them on display then just go with what feels right for you. Good luck with your decisions and surgery.

@Blister I had one node removed on left side, and two on right side as my cancer was bilateral. It wasn’t a prophylactic double mastectomy. I don’t feel major changes, except for some numbness in my armpits, but it’s already getting better. Now, I just need to say that at the age of 60 you are still very young. And regardless of age, you have every right under the sun to want to have nice looking, even breasts that will allow you to wear what you want and look pretty and be comfortable. These are all your rights as a human and as a woman. Especially after having gone through bc. It is NOT vain, and you deserve it. Women have breast augmentation just for self confidence, well imagine us, after having our poor breasts cut in pieces or cut away completely! We deserve it more than anyone I think. And having bc can make you feel like you’re not woman enough and it can also make you feel very unattractive, so you end up thinking why should I bother. I know because that’s how I felt after my diagnosis. But after some work on my mental and emotional health I feel and think differently. I now believe I am deserving of all the beautiful things this world has to offer, including nice breasts, and so should you! 👊🏻👌🏻. Partial reconstruction is possible, as is mammoplasty, so that might be a good option for you. If you’re in Sydney, I can give you the name of my surgeon who is fantastic at it. Let me know and good luck 😊❤️

I agree with @Zoffiel - it’s entirely up to each individual to do what they most want, go for it, but as someone who didn’t do any reconstruction at all over her missing boob, no-one has ever mentioned it. I look perfectly normal dressed, wear whatever clothes I choose, get changed in change rooms and have stripped off entirely in a shared Icelandic hot pot shower room, without anyone batting an eyelid. We tend to worry about it far more than anyone else, and once you stop doing that, it’s a non thing! Best wishes.

DCIS treatments | BCNA Online Network

47 Replies

Blister
Member
5 years ago
Can’t delete the question so edited instead to this sorry
Zoffiel
Member
5 years ago
@blister I've talked to a number of groups of young women about BC over the years; Netball clubs, that sort of thing. My one message for them is that the little bell that rings in our heads when we think something is wrong--whether it's to do with our health, relationship or our car--needs to be listened to. It's the last vestiges of our primitive selves and it's there for a reason.
Listening to that bell can save our lives. I'm glad you heard yours. Mxx
June1952
Member
5 years ago
Good news @Blister
FLClover
Member
5 years ago
Very happy for you @Blister 😊. I’m glad you’re happy with your decision, and that the cancer is all gone now 👌🏻
Blister
Member
5 years ago
got my pathology results yesterday, I’m so happy my nodes are clear and while they found another cancer area in my breast, doing the mastectomy meant they got it all. So now just waiting to see whether they still want to do a precautionary round of Radiation, medication or both. 😀 very happy with my decision to do the mastectomy, so glad I listened to my gut
FLClover
Member
5 years ago
So glad it went well @Blister ☺️. A speedy recovery to you ♥️
Blister
Member
5 years ago
my had my SMX on Wednesday and my Breast Care Nurse gave me this lovely boob 😊 it’s amazing how this little light weight thing has helped with my pain, just that little bit of pressure against my surgery area has helped. Apparently the drain is pressing or around some nerves 😬 so it has helped tremendously
JMC26
Member
5 years ago

Blister said:

@JMC26 I don’t know the answer, but maybe talk to your doctor or your breast care nurse. I hope you feel better soon, if it doesn’t they might be able to help or start you on a different treatment.

I’m not looking forward to starting these drugs.

FLClover said:

They sound like pretty nasty side effects @JMC26. Definitely have a talk to your onc about them

Thanks so much for your response Blister. Much appreciated. I will give my onc a call tomorrow.
JMC26
Member
5 years ago

FLClover said:

They sound like pretty nasty side effects @JMC26. Definitely have a talk to your onc about them

Thanks so much for your reponse FLClover. Much appreciated. I will give my onc a call tomorrow.
Blister
Member
5 years ago
@Zoffiel the decision was made so much easier when the radiographer referred to me as the lady with the micro invasions, when trying to find the 1.5cm mass on ultrasound, which was interesting as they couldn’t find the 3cm mass on ultrasound before. I kept asking about the other area that was found, but other than my surgeon no one would answer the question 🤷‍♀️ or mention it. I never gave my surgeon the time to give me all my options, just told her this is what I wanted.