DCIS - really that dangerous?

[canIlaughyet?]

Routine mammogram led to "suspicious" cysts; diagnosed intermediate DCIS after needle biopsy. I'm 46, my physician says "you've probably had this for 5 years". My question, if this has been there for 5 years, what's the rush for mastectomy? I'm thinking check it every 6 months and treat when/if it begins to change.
Also concerned about recurring pain and bruising at biopsy site - can a biopsy actually make things worse by stirring around in there?

[boninclyde]

I have the best husband and the greatest kids. So glad to see things went well for you. Good to see your family is supportive also. Such a long surgery. Did they do your reconstructive with the surgery? Look for brighter days ahead. Thats what will get me through the surgery.

[Ejr6358]

I am so sorry to hear you are so upset.  I have been there and still go up and down.  But physically I am feeling better every day.  My husband has been the biggest support and friend I could ever hope for.  It is hard for me to be around friends when I am down anyway.  

All I can say to you...hold on to your husband and your family.  The surgery was not bad...I was in for 9 hours and it seemed like 10 seconds...so that is not bad.  I did opt for reconstruction..from the tissue in my back.  I am thankful that I did....the first week is not bad because you are still so numb..I would say week 2-3 was tough because feeling returns and the drain tubes start to get on your nerves.  I just had mine removed this past thursday and that has made a huge difference.

I quit looking on the internet because it was freaking me out.  The reconstruction pics were making me sick.  So my surgeon showed me his work and that made things better.

I wish I could make it easier for you....my husband knows....I have not been myself since my diagnosis.....so don't feel bad...I have gone off the deep end several times...and he was always there to catch me..it is a huge hit to a woman...it does make you feel like you are going crazy....

Good luck on Monday...I will put you and your family in our prayers.

[boninclyde]

Even you second post is very harsh. We are trying to survive.

[carme]

I re-read my post and realize I came off a bit harsh, but this IS cancer we're talking about...not warts, not wrinkles, not grey hair. There aren't any cures for them...and there is no cure for breast cancer...yet.  I watched it come back in my grandmother, my aunt, my mother, another aunt, and another aunt. My mother never had radiation or chemo...she had DCIS. She had the second mastectomy (DCIS again...even after Tamoxifen) 13 years after the first...no chemo, no radiation...just total mastectomy. This time 26 years after the first breast cancer...my mom dies of ovarian cancer. Granted we have the BRCA2 mutation...and the women before us obviously had it too...it's still cancer and there is no cure yet. My mom was told she was considered cured after 5 years.
I participated in the first Tamoxifen trial because I have 3 daughters and had a pretty bad feeling I would be a statistic too.
Turns out my younger sister got breast cancer 1 year before me. The doctor in the trial said I was most likely protected those 3 years longer because I had the Tamoxifen instead of the placebo.
I read posts in this forum about women afraid of side effects etc...there are no side effects after you die.

[carme]

DCIS...bottom line, it's cancer. If you have ever had to take care of and watch someone you love suffer and die from cancer...if you have ever seen how rust on the body of a car spreads, you pay someone to grind it out and repaint it and it comes back (that's why people in that industry call rust "cancer')...you would be *** over heels to have that cancer removed!! If you have ever watched someone you love have that cancer come back in the same breast and kill them because they were too vain to have the mastectomy instead of a lumpectomy....Is DCIS really that dangerous?  I choose LIFE...the breasts served me well, but I'm fighting tooth and nails to keep from dying from this horrible disease...so I am FLAT...ALIVE...and have a good chance of beating this disease.

[boninclyde]

Did you have a lump? Did you have calcifications? How did you find yours. I have small lump just behind the nipple and alot of calcifications 2 clusters and some spread out. Doctor that did my biopsy just called only to say I had DCIS maybe comedo but not for sure on the comedo. Shouldn't he have told me more? Told me to see my surgeon. I wish you all the best. I am sorry you have to go through this. Please keep us posted.