As I understand it DCIS is graded after biopsy..... low intermediate and high. I had high grade and had a course of radiotherapy after my op. I was told that often just the op is needed with the lower graded type.

What you need to remember is DCIS is non invasive, totally contained in the milk duct and not life threatening. Theres a 99% success rate after 10 years. I never lost sight of that and totally trusted my medical team in the treatment I had.

I was diagnosed last November, had my op in January and radiotherapy over February and March. The op itself was fine. Had it a 3pm and was on my way home at 8.30pm same day. A little uncomfortable but only needed paracetomal for a couple of days. They do check it as they remove it.

I hope you find some comfort from what I've said. I'm absolutely fine now and have the reassurance of annual mammograms for 5 years. I also know I can contact the breast care nurses if I have the slightest worry about anything.

Sending hugs x

Thanks so much, think I’m just over thinking things and worrying unnecessarily, they never told me what grade it was. Thanks again for the advice xx

Hi there ... just want to say hi ... and welcome ... I'm a breast cancer lass too ... I had grade 3 ... the mastectomy last July was a lot less painfull then I imagined ... and there's a lot of us breast lasses on here too .. all different stages and different treatments ... but all doing well ...

We were all scared in those early days, and l think it's that cancer word and the unknown that plays on our minds ... and every day seems never ending ... so all those emotions are normal ... so your not alone ..  there's so many here that will hold your hand through it ... 

Now when I'm waiting for appointment or tests or anything medical is try to keep as busy as possible ... be kind to your heart, and know it is a hard road, but it is doable ... and if you can face it ... look it in the eye ... and the one thing wer all trying to do, is kick cancers bum , right down the road ... 

If you need more info ... write down any questions you have ... give McMillan free phone a call ... or the one on here ... and get that from qualified nurses ... hearing a friendly voice is really conforting ... I used it in those early days ... it helped me ...  so sending you a big hug ... Chrissie x

Hi ladygoffy

i was diagnosed with DCIS in feb 2018 and yet to go through surgery - wide area incision. Like you I was worried too but not at the DCIS diagnosis as it’s contained and non life threatening but I have a nurse that speaks before engaging her brain and she moved the goalposts to include invasive cancer. But given the amount of tests that I have had the consultant didn’t anticipate any. Not that it really mattered as the treatment is the same anyway and it would be really small if it were there so won’t have spread. As time has went on I find no one is really bothered about my DCIS, I’m at the bottom of the list for surgery as they put patients that actually have cancer before me - which is okay with me. If your consultant is just advising surgery then I suspect you have low grade DCIS but don’t quote me on that and don’t worry about them checking everything - they do! It’s a well oiled machine with every bit of the procedure fine tuned to identify the area and get all of it out and sent to pathology. No one wants to be in this position but given the prognosis for DCIS we are the lucky ones. 

Take care x

Hi Magpiemaggie

Thank you for your reply, I’m feeling a little better although nervous as my surgery is next week now. I’m surprised you haven’t had your surgery yet if you were diagnosed in February! My surgeon was looking at the end of July for me but said it had to be sooner as they have to treat me in a certain time frame and moved a non cancer patient out of surgery to fit me in as mine was cancerous! But I’m guessing  different areas have different procedures and different types and grades get treated all differently.  I hope you get yours sorted soon and thank you for helping me not to worry. Big hugs Heidi x

Hi ladygoffy

glad you’re feeling a bit better. You’ll feel even better once it’s all over with. I guess treatment/waiting times depends on location/surgeon, it’s been stressed to me DCIS is not cancer but abnormal cells and removing it is a precautionary treatment, so at the moment I’m not worried and happy to wait, they are also keen to state that waiting will not change my prognosis. So I’m enjoying this wonderful weather :)

good luck with the op and keep us updated x