DCIS lumpectomy yesterday
Hi yall, so glad this service is available. Just had my lumpectomy yesterday and feeling the blues. Biopsy results next week, hoping for the best, expecting anything. It seems that radiotherapy is likely, which I had hoped wouldn't have to happen. It will take over my plans for weeks!!! I am struggling with social isolation following leukemia with immunity issues followed up by a bad dose of covid last year. Was just starting to get it together then this happened!!! Feeling like a lightning rod for cancer atm. So really this is probably small potatoes in the scheme of things, but still not really what I had planned. Appreciate any input.105Views0likes5CommentsSurgery and tail-end of a cold?
Hi everyone - I had a lumpectomy three weeks ago after a high grade DCIS diagnosis. Was due to go back last week for a re-excision to ensure clear margins but I’d caught a monster cold in the meantime. Surgery is now scheduled for Tuesday- I still have a bit of congestion and a bit of a cough which I think is post-viral. Has anyone been in the same situation? Is it likely to be postponed? On a completely side note, thank you all for being here and sharing advice and stories. It does make me feel less isolated. I’m 65 and my husband has been super-solid but he’s prone to extreme positivism which can be great but sometimes isn’t. We live with my 94 year old mother who quite probably doesn’t remember what’s going on. This would all feel very lonely without this online network.51Views0likes2CommentsCan't stop thinking about bad outcomes
Newly diagnosed ++- and scheduled for lumpectomy in 2 weeks followed by radiation if all goes to plan. I'm having intrusive obsessive thoughts about death, particularly dying during the surgery and what my funeral will be like. It's non stop and exhausting and I'm neglecting everything else. I've put together an 'instruction manual' for my husband so he knows how to look after our autistic son properly. Are these thoughts premonitions or just underlying fear? I want it all to stop!152Views0likes5CommentsHow did I get here?
Hi everyone, what do I say…I am in shock! I felt it was time I reached out to the community as I’ve been reading all your posts the past few weeks and now I really need support and reassurance. I am 56 and have a wonderful husband and three beautiful 20 something children. I had a routine mammogram in April (12 monthly due to Mum and sister both having BC in the past - both early and doing fine now) and diagnosed on 13 May with invasive carcinoma with micropapillary features, 17mm in size, ER/PR+ve HER2 2+equivaocal from biopsy and ultrasound/3D mammogram. A further weeks wait for HER2 ISH testing which was negative before surgery options were discussed. As I have size G breasts and the lump was apparently so small I opted for WLE with oncoplastic breast reduction as my Mum and sister had both had good outcomes with lumpectomy so I was confident with the reduction they would get good margins. Surgery was performed on 30/5 and I’ve recovered well. Here js the kicker…I went back for the surgery and sentinel lymph node biopsy results and first the surgeon tells me the tumour was 64mm not 17mm! Then he tells me there were mega metastases in the lymph node which was removed. On the pathology report it say ‘the lymph node is almost completely replaced by metastatic carcinoma with similar histological features’. The sentinel node was 28mm. Does this mean I have metastatic cancer? I am reeling…how did they get it so wrong??? And what now? The surgeon has said the next step is an auxiliary dissection which he has booked me in on 30/6 to do…20 days away! He said he needs to wait for things to settle properly after the last surgery with reduction. Meanwhile this cancer is travelling all through me… I am booked in for a PET with CT scan on Thursday which I guess they are looking for more metastases. Should I also be asking for a bone scan? I have not been referred to an oncologist yet, apparently that is after the next surgery but I really don’t understand why they wouldn’t be thinking to get me started on that now rather than waiting even longer. I just can’t comprehend the results I got yesterday. I have so many questions and I just feel like the surgeon is following a routine but I don’t understand why. After a sleepless night of anxiety through the roof I would love some words of advice from this amazing community. Thank you x349Views1like4CommentsSuggestions/Experience
Hi everyone, I’m looking for some advice or experiences from others who might have faced a similar situation. I was recently diagnosed with invasive carcinoma grade 1 and have undergone a lumpectomy with sentinel node biopsy. The surgery also removed areas of DCIS, and thankfully, the pathology report shows that all margins are clear. However, the report also found extensive LCIS (lobular carcinoma in situ), and now my doctor has presented me with two options moving forward: Undergo a double mastectomy to reduce future risk Or opt for regular screenings every 6 months for the rest of my life (mammograms, MRIs, etc.) I need to make this decision before starting radiation, and I’m feeling really torn. A mastectomy is obviously a big step, but ongoing screenings come with their own stress and uncertainty too. If anyone has had to choose between these options, or has any advice, experiences, or perspectives to share, I’d be really grateful to hear from you. Thank you246Views0likes4CommentsNewly diagnosed DCIS
Hi folks - I just got my diagnosis this morning and am going through ALL of the emotions. Seeing my GP on Monday for referral to a surgeon, but this site is huge - any suggestions for where to start? My treatment is likely to be a lumpectomy - hopefully with no radiation treatment but that’s a possibility. Unlikely to be chemo. Details are that it’s an intermediate grade ductal carcinoma in situ with focal comedonecrosis and calcifications (7mm x 4mm x 6mm). ER positive, PR positive. Both auxiliary lymph nodes normal.241Views1like8CommentsFluoxetine and Letrozole
Hello folks, I'm wondering if there is anyone in this community with experience of low mood being exacerbated by Letrozole. I have been on Fluoxetine for many years but am finding after six months on Letrozole my mood has become very low. Does anyone have a similar experience and what have you done to alleviate it? I have an appointment with a GP to ask about it but would like to read about other's experiences and fixes.135Views0likes3CommentsDecision
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.320Views2likes3CommentsIndecisive
I am new to this group and beginning my journey. It is very reassuring to feel I can learn from other members experiences. Knowing that everyone’s situation is different and I am beginning to appreciate that there are a number of decisions ahead of me regarding treatment options. i was recently diagnosed with mass-forming, high-grade DCIS of the left breast. The mammogram detected a single 14mm lesion and an ultrasound detected a corresponding mass. So I understand that this is considered small in size. No hormone marker testing was performed on the biopsied tissue. I have been scheduled for a wide excision next week and my surgeon has given me two options: either have a sentinel lymph node biopsy at the time of the surgery, or wait until the histopathology report is back (after surgery) and then later do the sentinel lymph node biopsy if any invasive cancer is detected. I am having difficulty making a decision. I appreciate that if the biopsy is performed next week (whilst the excision is performed), I only then have one anaesthetic but if I choose the second option, I may avoid unnecessary loss of lymph nodes. Wondering if any other members diagnosed with a small high-grade DCIS have been given this choice and if so, what did you decide?125Views0likes2Comments