Newly Diagnosed with DCSI...and what to do next and scared

Lisa, I am so sorry that you have to make this choice. I wanted to reply to your post even though I have no experience with your kind of situation. I am still awaiting results from tests after masses were found in both my breasts.
If you have a good support system within your family, listen to their suggestions about if and why they might support one of your options over another. That may give you peace in making the final decision.

Lisa,

Does the breast center where you're going for treatment provide the services of a social worker? Most do. I know mine did.

It helps to get the support and thoughts of people who have been through what you're going through, and they're very good at orchestrating in-person meetings with other individuals in similar situations,....even atypical ones.

I'd strongly encourage you to consider this route.






M.

Understand it is a huge decision and I hope that you can find it in your heart and head to make the one that is best for you. Talk to your surgeon and ask him to give it to you straight and what he recommends and why one option is better than the other. Every situation is different, eventhough we all have the same disease, it is important to talk to your surgeon and ask for straight up facts, and what your chances are for reacurance with a lumpectomy versus a masectomy so you can make a informed decision. Hearing the facts can really be hard on us but we have the right and need to know the facts. Will be here for you no matter what, and yea this is a brutal disease on so many levels. Be gentle with your self, and know that what ever you feel, is ok. I too was told by my surgeon that the type of breast cancer i have has a high rate of recurrance, and it is already very advanced, however, I still have choices and options, and I hold those choices very near and dear, and make as informed ones as I can. My surgeon told me that it wont make a difference if I have a mast or a lumpectomy in my treatment, radiation and chemo will be the primary treatment for my cancer, so i opted for the lumpectomy, and lymph node removal as that I really had no choice in the lymph node removal, if i was doing what was best for me. If it comes back, the surgeon said it probably wont be in my breast but some were else in my body. for you hun though this is stuff you need to discuss thuoraly with your surgeon, as we all have different options, even though we all have the same disease. We disscussed it thouraly so I am confident I made the right decision for me, based on the facts. My other Dr, also concured that this is a good decision based on my facts, so am pretty optimistic eventhough the treatments are going to be very aggressive, will cross that bridge when i get to it =). Please keep in touch and feel free to write anything and everything, no judgement here =). No need to be sorry for how you feel, or if what you say does not make sense to others, cause Honestly we are all speaking the same language here and totally get what you are saying and even what you are not saying. It really a painful decision to have to make and come to a place of acceptance, that "yea I can live with this decision." keep in touch and im Rooting for you!! Hugs.

ok...got my surgery date...July 14th. Now the wait.

That is good to hear you have made the best choice for your self Liven I am happy for you, it is not easy, by any means. so glad you gave your self the tme to come to your decision with the information you have been given! Yea the wait is awful =( currently im in chemo.