Hi Anxious 57

I had DCIS removed 2015 also and was very tearful and anxious so this is completely normal.  It will get better but it is very hard trying to accept the diagnosis when you have been fit and healthy.  DCIS has a very good prognosis and is not life threatening.   Remember to pamper youself and say positive. Best of luck 

JohannaM

Hi JohannaM

Thank you so much for your reply.  I have to have another small op on 15/7 to hopefully obtain clear margins. It worried me that in the centre of what she took was 4mm of invasive cells, but my consultant said that was miniscule, and has been removed.  All the way along they kept saying nothing was invasive!  They will check lymph nodes this time, but consultant is very happy so she says.  She still said this wouldn't shorten my life, but I feel just when I think it's sorted, there's something else to do!  She has given me hormone therapy for 5 years, and said this will protect both breasts for 10 years!  I said I was terrified and she asked why.  She said it was at the top of the scale for good outcome.  

Did you have radiotherapy and are you on any hormone treatment.  I have driven myself insane googling all sorts, and I can highly recommend no one does this.  I'm very pleased to hear you are well after your diagnosis 4 years ago, and I wish you good health for many years to come x 

Hi anxious

i was diagnosed with high grade DCIS last year but post op found to have invasive among it that was picked up before. It was a bit of a shock as, like you, I was told this Is only DCIS. I also had to have a second op for margin clearance. Unfortunately, there is a lot of scar tissue which has effected a good cosmetic outcome. I had radiotherapy and on tamoxifen but moving on to a new drug soon. But I have to take mine for 10 years, perhaps because of my age?

you do appear to have good results here but understand why your’re anxious. Hopefully once you have finished treatment and get away from the hospital consultations, life will return to normal. I know I rarely think about my bout of cancer and only think about it when I have a hospital appointment or when I come on here. Good luck with your treatment x

Hi MagpieMaggie

Thank you for your reply, it's so good to hear of a successful outcome!  Did you have to have a sentinel node biopsy too?  This is now worrying the life out of me, and I have another 5/6 weeks to wait for op and results of that!  I have a wonderful consultant, and she asked if I had a holiday booked, I haven't, but she said even if you told me you was going away for 3 months I would be happy to wait, it's out, just doing precautionary! So why do I feel so anxious? If I could have found her email address last night I would have told her to do a double mastectomy!!  The hormone therapy is usually given at the end of treatment, but she said if I wanted to start it now she didn't have a problem with it.  It will put me back into menopause symptoms, hot flushes etc, which to be honest have tailed off a great deal (I'm 57), but not completely gone, so I'm still used to them!  I have warned my partner as we are moving house, that the next one might need to be an igloo! 

I'm guessing you are somewhat younger than me?  I have been put on Arimidex, which I know is a good drug.  My mother had a small bc when she was 78, and was put on this drug and had no further occurrence.  She said I take it for 5 years, but it gives both breasts protection for 10 which is very comforting. 

I have so many future plans with my new partner, who has been amazing, I just want to get on with life!  I wish you loads of good health and happiness for your future, and thank you again for taking the time to come on here and share your experience x

Hi,

yes, though it wasn’t a biopsy it was removal of 3 lymph nodes. I understand where the anxiety comes from - it’s the great unknown. I was like you in that I panicked and though I’d have a double mastectomy but then I looked at the research and saw that there was nothing to be gained from it, in terms of recurrence/mortality. This knowledge made me be certain of my decision to stick with lumpectomies. I am younger than you but was told that the recommended treatment is ten years so perhaps you could ask your consultant about that?

i was just entering the perimenopausal stage when diagnosed and had no symptoms through it all, then I took tamoxifen and within 4 months I got/get hot flushes, night sweats, joint pain, back spasms and leg cramps. Its a pain in the neck!

so far I can tolerate it and hoping it’s not like this for the next 10 years.

so glad you’ve got a really supportive new partner and by the looks of it you’ve got years ahead to enjoy him :)

Hi

I think that is what my consultant was talking about, she called it removal of sentinel nodes which are tested, and said she was only taking the first 3 nodes, so I assumed it was a biopsy.  Yes the menopause is a pain in the butt!  Having been through it, I am not happy about doing it again, but hey ho, if that is the worst then so be it!   I intend to lose weight (I am about 2 stone over), swim and exercise when it's all over, and have overhauled my diet to include much more in the way of fish, vegetables and fruit.  I have also given up alcohol.  I know this may seem like a knee *** reaction, but believe me, when I was in full hot sweats, a glass of wine had me glowing throughout the dark of the night, as did spicy foods etc lol. 

If you have a partner, they need to get used to sleeping in an igloo, fast!!  My window was permanently open in the bedroom, even in frost and snow lol!  I'm looking into yoga too.  For me, it's about control, and what I can do to help recover and reduce the risk of anything further.  I know it has no guarantees, but it can only help not hinder.  The menopause symptoms naturally do subside, not sure whilst you are on hormone therapy though!  Everyone is different, and for me the hot flushes were the worst, but as I say, I was overweight, ate a lot of spicy food and drunk alcohol, which didn't help the symptoms.  Be kind to yourself, and thanks for all your support x 

 Hi,

im doing lots of exercise but finding it difficult to shift the belly fat, diet has changed too but can’t give up my home made curries. I don’t drink alcohol so no loss there. I guess I’m just going to have to get through this. With regards to nodes they usually only take the first one as if there is no cancer there it can’t be in the others. They took more of mine due to them lighting up with the contrast. *** luck with everything and feel free to come back anytime if you need support x

Thanks Magpiemaggie.  I love curries too, but the spices do affect hot flushes lol.  I assume your lymph nodes were clear?  I am gradually calming down a bit, but get waves of panic which is not good for me I know.  I'm a born worrier, inherited trait from my mother.  Its so good to hear you are healthy again now.  In the scheme of things, menopause is a breeze, as long as you have a window and a fan! . You're a gem for sharing your experience, I'm really grateful x 

Hi anxious

happy to share my experience. Yes thankfully my lymph nodes were clear and there removal hasn’t caused me any bother. Even the scars are gone and one wouldn’t know I’ve been operated on. Be prepared for it to be numb around the area for a while and some stiffness. I think the panic will lesson over time - it’s perfectly understandable as you are going through a tough time but your outlook is good, your cancer was caught early and is tiny and your surgeon has taken it all away so you are now cancer free, the margin clearance will give you a bigger margin, as did mine, and that should give you comfort to know every cell has gone. It’s important to remember these things when in panic mode. I have a brilliant oncologist who talks about my cancer in the past tense and I think that’s psychologically important.

You don’t mention your oncologist - have you seen one? 

Ps - would rather have the hot flushes than give up my curries :D

Is my oncologist my surgeon?  She said even though I'm going to move a bit further out, she is happy to see me for my check ups, so I guess she must be!  Cancer free sounds so good, I just have to convince myself!  Also pleased to hear about your lymph nodes site, I have heard some real horror stories! 

I feel I'm being a bit of a baby about it all, but I spent years in hospitals with my mother and her heart condition, and I hate the whole illness thing!  I have had a couple of meltdowns, have some bruising still that feels a little hard and lumpy underneath, but I guess thats normal, only been 12 days since op! 

I don't have a curry very often these days, my new partner doesn't like spicy food, but when out with my friends I always suggest a curry lol.  I was still having occasional hot flushes anyway, so I'm used to them