Extensive DCIS with ITC
hi, I was diagnosed with high grade DCIS following a MRI late last year (showed as ~2.5cm), not picked up on US or mammogram. I had a lumpectomy, which didn't get clear margins at 7.5cm so based on t...
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Hi GC003 I hope you are doing ok.
I had a similar scenario but mine was invasive ductal carcinoma. I had one positive lymph node, taken at the same time as the first lumpectomy, followed by a second lumpectomy which still didn't get margins and then a mastectomy (thankfully with margins and no chest wall involvement). The tumour ended up being much larger than originally thought. No evidence of disease elsewhere in the body from the PET scan.
I ended up having chemo and radiation, but I got the impression that it wasn't an entirely straightfoward decision/recommendation for the team, and I don't think my disease fit neatly into a stage - although they ended up calling it stage 2.
When it came to chemo, the team was going to offer me a lesser regime, but given my age (young-ish at 46 and otherwise fit and well) and my desire to throw everything at it, I ended up getting the full chemo experience. Not exactly a picnic but I'm glad I had it. I think it would weigh on my mind if I knew there was an option for more extensive treatment and I didn't take it. But everyone is different and has different medical needs and priorities (medical or otherwise).
Let us know how the decision goes and how you're travelling. Best wishes - the waiting is the worst part if you ask me.
Thank you, much appreciated. And yes the waiting is the hardest - I really struggled with having to wait the 6 week period between the initial lumpectomy results and having the mastectomy, not helped with it being Christmas. Better now, but a bit nervous to see what they will recommend as it seems to be a fairly unusual situation so there isn't much information online about the 'standard approach' with this. I'm also youngish and no evidence of disease elsewhere, so partly ok if they just want to monitor, but partly also thinking do I just want to as you say 'throw everything at it' to make sure it doesn't come back as I have friends/family where it has come back & hasn't been good.