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scorpiowoman's avatar
scorpiowoman
Member
11 years ago

DCIS and surgery

I'm hoping someone here can help me! I'm seeing a breast surgeon on the Gold Coast who suspects I have DCIS as I have a painful bleeding duct. I am having an MRI on Thursday as nothing showed in the mammogram (tissue too dense) or ultrasound. The pain I am experiencing is on the outer lateral side of my breast, almost as deep down as my chest wall. My breast surgeon wants to excise the duct regardless of the MRI findings, but only 4cm of duct from the nipple. I am worried that if it is DCIS that the surgery may do two things I am extremely concerned about. 1. It may not remove enough of the duct especially as my pain is so lateral (much further than 4cm from my nipple)! This may result in a negative biopsy of the tissue. 2. She may disturb any cancer that's there and introduce the cells into the healthy tissue of my breast. I asked her if she can please remove the duct in its entirety but she said 4cm is usually enough. What should I do? I'm freaking out enough as it is without having to worry about a bungled surgery and diagnosis.
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  • scorpiowoman's avatar
    scorpiowoman
    Member
    11 years ago
    The tomosynthesis looks interesting. What I read was from 2009 when they were trialling it and they were concerned about the xray dose. Did they manage to get it down?
  • scorpiowoman's avatar
    scorpiowoman
    Member
    11 years ago
    The tomosynthesis looks interesting. What I read was from 2009 when they were trialling it and they were concerned about the xray dose. Did they manage to get it down?
  • scorpiowoman's avatar
    scorpiowoman
    Member
    11 years ago
    Just looked up difference between screening and diagnostic mammogram. It was diagnostic; requested by a GP because of my symptoms and I got to keep the images.
  • scorpiowoman's avatar
    scorpiowoman
    Member
    11 years ago
    Just looked up difference between screening and diagnostic mammogram. It was diagnostic; requested by a GP because of my symptoms and I got to keep the images.
  • scorpiowoman's avatar
    scorpiowoman
    Member
    11 years ago
    I had a digital mammogram; as far as I know a regular one. No-one has ever explained a difference. Nothing showed in the ultrasound either, but the Dr only ordered it for the breast in question, not both. The surgeon says that it's next to useless if she can't make comparisons to the other breast. I'm hoping the MRI will show whatever is going on. I'm finding it really hard to be brave. I don't even have a diagnosis and I'm already freaking. I think I expected her to tell me definitively that it wasn't DCIS rather than tell me it could be. I have never heard of tomosynthesis. I will look it up immediately. The surgeon said there was only 3% increased chance of picking something up with the MRI compared to ultrasound (which showed nothing). What worries me most though is misdiagnosis or spreading cells via this duct removal.
  • VivW's avatar
    VivW
    Member
    11 years ago

    Have you had a diagnostic mammogram, or just the regular mammogram.  I also have dense breast tissue, regular mammogram gave me the all clear, it was an ultrasound that picked up tumor. Next mammogram they had to change all the equipment to do diagnostic one. 

    At my 1st year check up the place where I have my mammogram has a new mchine called tomosynthesis, this machine takes images in slices across the breast, is meant to be more accurate.

    May be worth checking out if there is one anywhere near you.

    All the best, but keep asking the questions if you are not satisfied.

    I remember having breast pain, and was told it was hormonal.

    Best wishes

    Viv