Jan
8
Written by:
June
1/8/2010 11:46 PM
I need some help......diagnosed Dec 18th with DCIS, SOLID TYPE, CENTRAL NERCROSIS, NUCLEAR GRADE 3/3. Supposedly going in for lumpectomy next week and my friends think I am crazy to undergo radiation when I could just have a mastectomy and get it over with......
This is where this gets really crazy....I hope you can follow me on this.....when I went into see the Oncologist surgeon, during my visit he wanted to know why I chose to ignore this matter from 2008 as the size was at least 9 cm of area of concern. I was told I was clean and clear from 2008 mammo center.....so that is just problem #1.......which I am not ready to deal with yet.........#2 There are 2 areas of concern, 1 being the anterior and the other the posterior. Supposedly the anterior is the positive, however the pathologist never marked which was which during the biopsy he took....so after a week with much review from the team that I am working with and no other biopsy, they feel comfortable with thinking it is the anterior where the malignancy is. I am concerned for so many reasons.......needless to say I am scared that if I go into surgery for a lumpectomy and they take out the wrong area, that leaves me to go back through this procedure a second time. Yes I could put my faith in thier hands and trust them that they know what they are doing, and everything could come out clean and with clear margins, but it is also my friends who think I am crazy not to have the whole thing removed. I have 2 kids ages 9 and 6 and they think I should be thinking of them and not my self image.....I am praying that everything will work out fine, but I feel that 2 screw ups already and mine being grade 3/3 could become invasive if left untreated for sometime...........the area that they want to take out will be about 5 cm and a little more to make clear margins.......I also know after much review on this subject that every case is different, however I just cannot help but second guess my descision.......am I crazy to want to save my breast? What about radiation? It is on my left side and I guess there can be scarring of the lung and heart due to radiation treatment......Any light anyone could shed on this matter would be greatly appreciated.....thank you, June
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Re: DCIS lumpectomy or mastecomy
No, it not wrong to want to save your breast. You should know that there are thing out there women that do lose them. I've never made this choice, but watched my mother go through the process. She lost hers... for a while she used the bra, but didn't like it. So eventually she got recontructive surgery. Other then the scars you couldn't tell. I don't know your home life, but unless you have a husband, or someone to take care of you and the kids, that may not be the best idea. Really, your appearance shouldn't be a concern. As for radiation... it may scar you lungs and heart, but it also kills the cancer cells. Focus on your health now, but i would also think about the future. Its scary for the bystanders as well, but it can come back. If it does, it doesn't always come back in just the breast. In my moms case, it spread... Like i said, i've never made the choice. It just makes sense to remove the whole area.
By sluvian873 on
1/13/2010 1:51 PM
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Re: DCIS lumpectomy or mastecomy
I wish you the best... no one deserves to go through this.
By sluvian873 on
1/13/2010 1:51 PM
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Re: DCIS lumpectomy or mastecomy
One of my best friend was diagnosed with DCIS last March...she opted for a masectomy ...she had reconstructive done the same day, and no radiation or chemo was required....since they got all the cancer cells out...and it had not invaded anything else..She is doing great ! and back to her horseback riding fulltime....Dont give up, dont dont settle for pne or even 2 opinions, and NEVER stop prayiing!
By skdranch on
1/26/2010 8:54 PM
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Re: DCIS lumpectomy or mastecomy
I had just had a mastectomy on my left breast after 3 other surgeries to try to get a clean margins for my DCSI. After the 3rd time I basically had to deal with what I wanted to keep on going through. I am only 35 years old. I was diagnosed at 34. Hearing that the doctors still have not gotten a clean margin was wearing down on my positive outlook. When explained about DCIS, it has no real "lump or mass" that a surgeon can actually remove. He would be flying blind. I have 2 children and a loving husband that I wanted to be there for... years to come. I am currently going through reconstructive surgery now. It has been a long and trying path. With taking the mastectomy I was also told that I would not have to get localized radiation on my left breast. Although the effects are not as complicated as getting Chemo it had its downfalls. I also had to be aggressive with my treatment thinking of my health 1sy. I was originally told that the mass found was nothing to be concerned about but I still insisted on them removing this "small mass." That was the only reason we found out I even had DCIS. My gynecologist had just recommended to me to start getting mammograms for habit with cancer being in my family history. I can only say that you should trust your gut feelings. Ask a million questions and stay positive.
By saliele74 on
5/16/2010 10:58 AM
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