Decision
I have been diagnosed a second time the first was DCIS 3.5yrs ago, had a lumpectomy without radiation or chemo. Cancer has now returned in the milk duct 2mm. I am having surgery soon was given choice of total mastectomy or total nipple and aerola removal. His recommendation was mastectomy, I have chosen the later. Now wondering if I was offered radiation after the first surgery would I be in this situation now. Also not recommended for radiation after this current one. Not sure if I have made the right decision.
Don't know what to do
Hi I was diagnosed with DCIS in 2015 had it taken out and I have had radiation done, now i have another one come back in March this year and had it taken out way were both benign now my specialist is asking me to choose between a mastectomy or keep being checked regularly not shore on what r
Question on Tamoxifen vs Zoladex and Exemestane. Does this s**t ever end?
Hi everyone, This is my first posting here. I have read and gained so much from the many postings, wisdom and inspiration from everyone on this forum and for that I have to say thankyou. The information contained within this network, I believe, far outways what most doctors can tell you. I guess that's because they really don't involve a lot of the emotional side of the treatments and how that effects every aspect of your life for so long. So I am eight months into the battle after being diagnosed with stage 2 invasive carcinoma (of no particular sort aparently) + DCIS with 5 of 24 lymph nodes positive ER/PR + HER2neg. I've had lumpectomy, re excision to gain clearer margins, 4x AC and 12 paclitaxol (manged to keep my hair thanks to cold capping YAY!) and am on number 14 of 30 sessions of radiation. So my question is: Saw my oncologist the other week who, up until then, had only ever mentioned doing 10 years (OMG) of Tamoxifen after everything else is finished. Then on my last visit decides that Zoladex monthly injection and exemestane tablets for 5 years is the way to go although he couldn't really tell me the success rate of one verse the other. You should get a laugh out of this.......(my Dr is Indian and sometimes things get a little lost in translation) So with a big smile on his face claims the Zoladex will "castrate" me and would be the best option..............wow......if I hadn't nearly fallen off my chair laughing I would have burst in to tears (which I did as soon as I left his office). Has anyone had any experience with this combination? Seriously, I am already getting 20 -30 hot flushes a day, wake up 5-10 times a night due to overheating along with all the other usual things your body does when suprisingly has all its female hormones shut down unexpectedly. There seems no end to treatment. I would be keen to also hear if anyone knows any natural ways to lower estrogen as an alternative to years of hormone blockers? Thanks for listnening.
Mistake in pathology report
Has anyone discovered any mistake at all in their pathology report? I discovered months later that they got my specimen orientation wrong. Prior to Mastectomy, I had a lumpectomy at my upper, outer area of my breast. But in the mastectomy report, they described the former surgery site as located in the inner, bottom area. That’s comoletely wrong. To make matters worse, they discovered an occult DCIS in one of the margins. But since the specimen orientation is wrong, we now have no idea which margin is really affected. Can I sue someone or lodge an official complaint? My breast surgeon doesn’t even seem bothered by this mistake. I am so disappointed.DCIS and endometriosis- HELP!!
Hi everyone, totally new to this amazing network and this whole new world of cancer & DCIS! I am looking for advice to to hear from ANYONE who may have been through something similar to what I am going through. two months ago I found a lump in my right breast and the GP sent me off to the experts. Biopsy’s, ultrasounds, MRIs, mammograms later it’s DCIS. I am run through the options and go into for a wide local. During this surgery they find a 0.8m tumor and remove and take wider margins. However they do not come back clear, so the following week I go back in for some more “housekeeping” and wider margins. I was told yesterday that those margins are clear, hooray! The direction now is that they want to do 5 weeks of radiation and put me on Tamoxifen for 5-10 years. HOWEVER, I have endometriosis and have been told tamoxifen will heighten my endometriosis. Along with the standard early menopause (should say I am 39 years old with one kid, happy with one child, based in Newcastle NSW). As this has already been such a whirlwind, I am trying to find resources or people who have had to go into early menopause - did you get endo side effects? Or if you already had endo, did you opt to have your ovaries etc removed to stop any side effects/pain? Or did you opt for a mastectomy instead? Soooo many questions! I am discussing with all doctors and specialists but haven’t ever spoken to another person in my position. Please PM me or comment if you want to share your experience thanks for listening 😊
HIgh grade DCIS
Hi all This is my first post. Following a first ever mammogram I was diagnosed with high grade 50mm DCIS. I had a nipple saving mastectomy with a saline implant. Two days post op half my breast skin died including my nipple. I had a second surgery immediately and the surgeon used my back muscle and tissue to help with a skin graft. I was very disappointed and still wonder what went wrong. I have a few thoughts, but I need to move on. Got my pathology today and all clear, with no follow up treatment. I look forward to hearing from others who have been through my situation thank you Lisa
1st step in the journey
Hello my pink sisters, I saw my surgeon today and the outcome is that I will have a bilateral mastectomy. Apart from the main tumour of about 20 cm there is also calcification & DCIS throughout the the whole breast, so off it goes. I chose to have the right breast off as my cancer is ER & PR positive & I am pre menapausal. It will also mean that I will not have to worry about a cancer developing in the future in the right breast. Mastectomy will be followed by chemo & then radiation. I actually feel quite good about my decision. I am in control, steering my multi disciplined team. Also very confident in my surgeon. He is experienced, values my opinion, is happy to answer my questions & explains his reasons for recommending a particular action. Today I also met the breast care nurse, who was very informative & approachable. I then saw the link nurse, pre admission clinic & the anaethasist. Now I am waiting for the hospital to give me an appointment for a bone & whole body scan. Op should take place in next couple of weeks. Take care all. Regards Adrianne
Getting CT and bone scan results
Im 10 weeks in and cant wait for these results tomorrow. DCIS stage 2, grade 3, ER and PR+ had lumpectomy snb with micro cells in them. I know I have to have chemo, radiation, and hormone therapy. Waiting waiting thats all I seen to be doing these days. Trying to stay positive. Being a single mum sometimes makes it a bit harder. On the plus side Ive got some awesome friends that have been there for me and my boys. Never thought I would say this sentence but I cant wait for chemo to start. Hope all reading this is feeling ok.
