Good-bye boob photos - your ideas?
I've spent a month wrestling with the information about DCIS, and my decisions about what to do next. Starting with a flyer for the BCNA, given to me by BreastScreen NSW, that seemed to indicate that DCIS is not straight-up, bald-faced cancer. I spent the first 2 weeks after diagnosis trying to get my head around concepts and terminology. Is it life-threatening? No. Does it mean you're more likely to get invasive cancer at some point? Yes. Can you sit on it, and see what happens? Yes, if you like playing Russian roulette. The next 2 weeks making appointments with specialists... A breast surgeon: get it out. A plastic surgeon: we have marvellous folding tables and can recreate your boob from other bits of your body. For my A-B cup delights? No thanks, way too much hassle. A doctor who has had a bilateral mastectomy: you don't want to deal with radiotherapy and chemo, get it out. My doctor friend who uses complementary therapy: it's about survival, and you're young with a lot of stressors in your life, get it out. A breast surgeon and top-level researcher: we can't force you to do anything but getting it out is the best idea. And so the expert consensus, even though I feel fine, I am potentially fine, and I may remain potentially fine, is that I should cut out my very small boob - including the 6.1cm of low-grade DCIS - and get on with it. So that is what I've lined up for later this month, even though a vain and fatalistic version of myself is writhing around inside me, clammering for attention so I can hear it scream STOP. On the pro-mastectomy side: - I'm small-breasted so this is not such a big deal in terms of lop-sidedness - Survival, maybe - I can take up archery with fewer complications - Maybe it's time to go #braless4ever On the con side: - I'm cutting out a boob - Scars, pain and zombie-time - Dressing myself might be a bit of a nuisance So you see, there are more pros. Anyway, as part of saying goodbye to my booby, I've planned a pre-surgery photoshoot. Candid, B&W, naturalistic in my home. Does anyone have any ideas for poses, props and backgrounds that would work? Or good places to look for inspiration? I've tried Google-Imaging but I don't like to spend too much of my life scrolling through porn sites... which is what happens when you search terms like topless, semi-nude, female body art. B) :s Thanks in advance!
Newly diagnosed - DCIS
Hi all, newly diagnosed this week. Feels like the longest week ever and have been taking the time to look through various posts and resources. Thanks for sharing your stories. Following a breast screen 'callback' and biopsy on Monday I was given the diagnosis of DCIS in my left breast on Monday 17 July. I kind of feel out-of-body at times, and do I even have 'real' cancer. I felt guilty for worrying. At this point I am taking the public hospital option with good services (I am told) in my area. Of course, my worry is that I have cancer somewhere else. I believe they do a PET scan as part of the process. I am 56, married, 2 grown up daughters. Our youngest recently married the most wonderful young man. Happy times. Thanks again everyone and glad to have this forum as an additional resource.
DCIS - Breast marker missed in initial surgery
Hello, I was recently diagnosed with intermediate grade DCIS left breast presenting as a stellate lesion (1.4cm), apparently the usual presentation is calcifications. I had a wide local incision just before Christmas to have it removed. The surgery went well and I was very happy with the incision/surgery (done by a private breast cancer specialist). The scans I had before surgery were mammogram, ultrasound and an MRI. A breast marker was implanted at the time of the biopsy with Breast Screen. I went back to see the specialist last week and the pathology was showing that there was no breast marker in the tissue removed and also no DCIS in the pathology sample. He sent me for another mammogram, that was very uncomfortable I must say on a breast that has just had surgery! Long story short the recent mammogram showed that the breast marker and DCIS wasn't removed at surgery it had been missed, I'm booked in for the exact same procedure all over again this Thursday. I'm so upset that I have to go through another general and have the surgery all over again, plus I've been a mess just waiting for the results the first time around. That's been the worst part of this whole journey so far. I've spoken to the specialist about my concerns but I'm not really satisfied with his explanation. Also this is my second time dealing with cancer 23 years ago I went through surgery/chemotherapy and had to have an emergency hysterectomy. Going through this journey all over again is bringing up a lot of bad memories. Has anyone else been in this situation? I'm just feeling so deflated atm.
Still struggling with the word pre-cancer after DCIS mastectomy
I was diagnosed with low grade DCIS in my right breast in Nov 2019 and had a mastectomy in Jan 2020. I am 38 years old. I saw 2 specialist and both recommended a mastectomy because I am small breasted. Had an expander put in, awaiting for reconstructive surgery which has been postponed due to covid19. I am now clear without needing further treatment. My surgeon/breast care nurse/GP all refer to DCIS as pre-cancer and I struggle with this immensely because I need to feel that the choice I had made was justified and worth it. I lost my breast, it may be small but it was mine. This is not just about losing my womanhood, I felt I lost a part of me that made up the person I know myself to be. Because of this word I don't feel like I have saved my life, I didn't even have cancer. I know I should be grateful that I didn't have to go through radiation or chemotherapy or take any meds but to me a mastectomy is a very drastic treatment. How do you even explain it to other people? Nobody knows what DCIS is unless they have it, do I say I had pre-cancer? Is it wrong to say I had breast cancer? 5 months on and this is still keeping me from moving forward. At yesterday's Psychological Impacts webcast, someone asked Dr Tottman this very question and I was basically yelling at the screen "this is exactly how I feel!" So I now know there are others who are just like me. I hope to hear your stories and thoughts about how you are dealing with this particular issue.
Recurrence
Hi There, I'm posting my story on here as I am feeling lost - my family and friends are really supportive but I just don't feel understood. In 2015 I was diagnosed with low grade DCIS - my treatment was mastectomy, SNB with reconstruction in February 2016, followed by a prophylactic mastectomy of my remaining breast in November the same year. Based on my pathology and treatment, recurrence was a low risk. However last month, when I had my annual appointment I had a FNA on a lump which I was told last year was a cyst. Pathology suggested malignant cells so I was rushed in for scans - fortunately, there were no metastisis but I had surgery to further excise the tumors and another SNB. 3 days after my surgery I was readmitted for a second operation as there were 2 tumors identified (8 and 5 mm respectively). The second operation removed all of my skin (first mastectomy was skin sparing) and revealed a 3rd tumor, 4mm. Pathology was ER/PR+, Her-, micro mets to one lymph node. I will undergo radiotherapy but no chemo. I also found out yesterday that my bone scan revealed a benign hyperostosis on my skull and my surgeon has told me she isn't worried but wants a CT scan in a few months to check. After 3 weeks of scans, testing and surguries, and the additional worry now that the benign hyperostosis is actually a metastasis I am just at a low - for a disease that I thought I had treated 3 years ago I'm now left wondering (obsessing) about another recurrence. I just feel like I'm being denied a life but really I should be out there enjoying every minute of it. I have 2 gorgeous boys and a wonderful husband and it is so hard to see them deal with the events of the past 3 weeks. My surgeon has said that she hasn't seen a case like mine before so I feel quite isolated and scared. I've always been so healthy and now I feel like this will never end.Feeling very stressed and worried
Hello everyone, I have just been diagnosed with DCIS in three areas of one breast. I feel sick to the stomach and extremely worried. Have an appointment with surgeon on 8/4 to discuss mastectomy and breast reconstruction. Don't really know much at all other than what I have been reading. Trying extremely hard not to think about things but you know how it is, your mind wonders and thinks about the future and what is to come. Any help will be extremely appreciated. :(
Help sleeping/coping techniques
Hi All. I am currently 2 weeks post op for mastectomy and reconstruction using own tissue after DCIS diagnosis. Everything has happened so incredibly quickly. As much as I thought I was prepared for everything that was going on have been totally rocked emotionally by everything that has happened. Has anyone got any suggestions as to coping strategies for sleep. I find this is when I struggle the most. I don't regret the operation at all and have been really happy with the out come. Just feel totally unprepared for the emotional roller lasted that has been the last few weeks and just need to take back some control over my life. Thanks in advance.Second post - WTF - not what I wanted to hear
A massive massive thanks to those of you who replied to my first blog - I cried when I read your responses, and am so grateful to you all for taking the time to respond. So I was at the hairdressers today getting all my hair cut off, when my surgeon called me with the results and they were not the ones I was hoping for. Dammit! All a bit of a blur but I've since called her back and asked her to email through so I can digest it properly, but I have to go back for more surgery. Something about DCIS tumors found and cancer in the lymph node. So wishing I'd had the mastectomy now, but no point regretting now. Still have to wait till Friday for my appt with her and discuss what happens next but she said I could have surgery next week, which I'm sure I will do, just want to keep moving ahead. dammit, dammit dammit. and lots of other bad words too. can't tell the kids yet, will wait till friday's appt when we know more, but why do they have to see me go through this, so not fair!!! And friggin Naplan for all 3 of them next week, bloody brilliant.... At least their schools are not fussing over that, so I hope they won't stress out about it either. I've told them it's not important. Anyway, off to sport and a mothers day 'do" at school tonight, put on a brave face. Soldier on, be strong, all that stuff. feel sick inside though...
Newly diagnosed, waiting for sugery and scared
Hi, my name is Libby and I'm 41 and diagnosed with ILC and DCIS in my right breast early November...been prodded, poked, squeezed, pushed for the last few weeks and by the sounds of it a lot more to come. My sugery is booked in for 3 December and at the moment the hardest thing I am finding is knowing that I have cancer in me and I have to wait till Dec to get it out...I am so worried that it will spread in that time...but I know after visiting my specialist several times that there are a lot of women out there just like me waiting for their sugery too. I am having a lumpectomy and hoping that results come back after sugery in a positive light...that would be a nice xmas pressie...I have 5 children aged 16, 15, 10, 9 & 7...I have told my older children but am not quite sure what to say to my younger ones...friends are telling me not to tell them that I have cancer because I will simply worry them unnecessarily but would rather get advice from women that have experienced what I'm dealing with...so any thoughts would be appreciated. I am an earlychildhood teacher and have left work whilst I deal with this...a lot of people work through their entire treatment which is amazing..but I know in myself that I need to take time to walk on the beach, enjoy the sunshine, breath the air, spend extra time with family, bake biscuits lol...basically wrap my head around what is going on...I still think I am going to receive a phone call telling me it is a mistake...I feel lazy that I'm not working...I would perhaps consider working but the face to face contact with the kids is too much (some are aggressive). I have been reading the blogs everyday and end up crying...I just can't stop crying sometimes...I put on this brave face for the kids and my partner but I am so scared...I know everyone says it's not as bad as you think and stay positive but at the moment I guess I'm having a down day...hope I don't have too many of them. Ok, well thanks for listening to my waffle everyone :-) Libby
