Joined: 26 Jul 2003 Posts: 1 Location: Rhode Island
Breast Cancer: Ductal Carcenoma in-situ Posted: 07-26-03 16:15pm
I was diagnosed with this and was told it
was totally removed. Now the problem i'm
having is whether to have radiation and
tamoxifen treatments for that particular
breast, or have bi-lateral mastectomy.
You see my mothers three sisters have been
diagnosed with breast cancer. One is no
longer living. One had bi-lateral
mastectomy without reconstruction, one
only had radiation treatments.
My first cousin on my mothers side was
diagnosed just before me with breast
cancer, and is now undergoing chemotherapy
and radiation. Obviously hers was
invasive.
Mine was very small when it was found ,
only about 2cm. It had not spread.
But as you can see with my family history,
i am at a crossroads in my life. I do not
know which way to go, and really there is
no one to tell me. I was wondering if
anyone may have known of anyone with this
or know more about it on a personal level.
I have had consults with some of the top
doctors here in Rhode Island. Oncologists,
plastic surgeons, radiologists, genetic
counseling, along with just long talks
with my primary doctor on the subject. I
am also about to have my ovaries removed
to prevent further estrogen release. My
doctor agrees that estrogen does in fact
cause cancer, and with my family
history,(and since I've already had a
hystorectomy) I may as well have it done.
My surgeon also agrees, and my
gynocologist basically is just doing what
I want as he was not the one to find the
cancer ,,but rather my surgeon who i was
sent to by my primary doctor, because I
had found a cyst and the mammogram was
totally fine, only under ultrasound did
the cyst show and then I found out there
were two..i called my pcp and he got me
into the surgeon right away..he told me
that my cysts were nothing to worry about
, but during a breast exam found a
thickining in the opposit breast.
He sent me for an ultrasound of that area
and I was told they were only cysts and
nothing to worry about..I insisted on
having them out..and there among the cysts
was this ductal carcenomo in-situ.
I am 39 years old and my aunt who passed
on was 38 when she first found hers. At
that time mastectomy was the only
ulturnative and she then had
reconstruction. About 5 years later it
reoccured in the other breast. She then
had radiation and a lumpectomy. About 4
years later it returned again. She then
had her second mastectomy. Then about 2
years later her stomach began to bloat up
and they found that she had spots on her
liver. Cancer. They then started the chemo
treatments...a bit later on they decided
that estrogen was a major factor in her
cancer reoccurance, so t hey gave her a
hystorectomy and took her tubes and
ovaries as well..by then it was too
late..
I am so confused. I dont want to have to
worry about this every day of my life.
Everytime i feel a pain i do a breast
exam and thought i found another cyst..the
ultrasound didnt show one..I am going
crazy and I do take antidepressants now..I
dare to think what i will need to do later
on..I have no one to give me specific
answers and the only one I feel I could
talk to about this is gone.
I would appreciate any information that
anyone may have..
thank you