Hello All,
I am 49, was diagnosed with DCIS (high grade, 3 cm) in rgt breast in October. The first lumpectomy surgery removed the DCIS, the second was done to achieve enough clear margin and resulted in removing only healthy tissue - in November. I was told I need radiation after. I was not explained that radiation may alter treatment or reconstructive options later on if (hope not!!) the DCIS or an invasive form of cancer returns or appears.
I just learned about the difficulties of using implants for reconstruction on a breast that was radiated before. I am upset, that no one mentioned this before hand, and hesitant how to proceed. Radiation should start beginning of January for 6 and 1/2 weeks. Please tell me your thoughts.
1. This is DCIS. should I opt for tamoxifen only and monitoring?
2. Should I decide on mastectomy and reconstruction as a prevention?
3. Should I still go for radiation hoping that the equipments are getting better each year and this won't cause a major problem in case mastectomy/reconstruction needed in the future?
4. Even with mastectomy the chances of having cancer later on in life is not zero. With an implant already in the breast monitoring seems to be more difficult. MRIs don't pick up the type of calcifications as mammogram machines do. My DCIS could have gone unnoticed in MRI.
5. Are there any PS-s specializing in implants after radiated breasts??
Thank you, and I wish well for every member of this list.