I feel great! Within 5 months, I was back to playing tennis and my regular activity, biking, swimming… I decided not to create new breasts at all. The only thing I would do differently is to be even more picky than I already was in choosing my plastic surgeon for aesthetic flat surgery. I saw 10 plastic surgeons who all wanted to create new breasts for me. Some were very rude. The one I chose didn’t show me any pictures of his work. INSIST on finding a plastic surgeon who shows pictures of their results. I had pictures of what I wanted. He said he could create that result. I trusted him. Now I had to find a new plastic surgeon a year later to smooth out the dog ears. The “Not Putting on a Shirt” Facebook page was EXTREMELY helpful to me. I was a 32DDD at Victoria Secret. I always felt my breasts were too big for my body size. Now, I’m a 32A some days and a 32C whenever I want. Never needed radiation or chemo. It’s still tough though. The decision exhausted me!!
@toomanyquestions - Thank you so much for your reply! You are really of comfort to so many other women who may be dealing with similar decisions. One of the most important things you are making very clear is that we all have the right to decide what we want our bodies to look like.
I totally agree with you regarding the selection of a trusted plastic surgeon. Seeing photos of before-after surgical treatment is VERY important. That is true for any type of plastic surgery, including reconstructions. Thanks for the “Not Putting on a Shirt” information too!
Hi
I did not get the full report yet. The see the oncologist on Monday which is tomorrow. The surgeon did tell me that my specimen was 1 cm with clear margins and it should be two, but because it is all DCIS stage 0. He feels fine leaving me the way I am and not having me go through another surgery fir 1 cm. So that's all I know today. Tomorrow I will find out everything.
Hi
I did not get the full report yet. The see the oncologist on Monday which is tomorrow. The surgeon did tell me that my specimen was 1 cm with clear margins and it should be two, but because it is all DCIS stage 0. He feels fine leaving me the way I am and not having me go through another surgery fir 1 cm. So that's all I know today. Tomorrow I will find out everything.
Hi
I did not get the full report yet. The see the oncologist on Monday which is tomorrow. The surgeon did tell me that my specimen was 1 cm with clear margins and it should be two, but because it is all DCIS stage 0. He feels fine leaving me the way I am and not having me go through another surgery fir 1 cm. So that's all I know today. Tomorrow I will find out everything.
@sue417 - I am pleased you have at least some of the information! Regarding the margins, can you clarify an important point? You said the surgeon stated your clear margins were 1 cm and should be 2 cm. Do you actually mean 1 mm? Take a look at below link;
"... additional surgery may not be justified for patients with negative margins < 2 mm who undergo RT but should be performed in patients who forego RT." https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6051916/#:~:text=Recent%20national%20consensus%20guidelines%20recommend,managing%20negative%20margins%20%3C%202%20mm.
In other words, according to the above and other studies, if your margin is UNDER 2 mm (NOT 2 cm), you may need either re-excision OR Radiation Therapy.
@sue417 - Very good! Yes, you have it right: DCISionRT, by PreludeDX. It is the test that is now available in Canada. As I mentioned previously, you and your doctors (Surgeon, Oncologist, and Radiation Oncologist) can get the additional information directly from the company.
My radiation oncologist requested this test for me, but any of your doctors can. AND it is FREE in Canada!
@sue417 - I am pleased you have at least some of the information! Regarding the margins, can you clarify an important point? You said the surgeon stated your clear margins were 1 cm and should be 2 cm. Do you actually mean 1 mm? Take a look at below link;
"... additional surgery may not be justified for patients with negative margins < 2 mm who undergo RT but should be performed in patients who forego RT." https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6051916/#:~:text=Recent%20national%20consensus%20guidelines%20recommend,managing%20negative%20margins%20%3C%202%20mm.
In other words, according to the above and other studies, if your margin is UNDER 2 mm (NOT 2 cm), you may need either re-excision OR Radiation Therapy.
Hi
Honestly, it could be millimeter. I don't know my head swims when I talk to these people. I saw the oncologist yesterday and he really couldn't give me any more information. I have no idea if I'm estrogen. Positive or negative, he said that's a question for the London radiologist. So now I am waiting for that phone call. Then I will have to go down to London which is an hour away for a consult.
@sue417 - Very good! Yes, you have it right: DCISionRT, by PreludeDX. It is the test that is now available in Canada. As I mentioned previously, you and your doctors (Surgeon, Oncologist, and Radiation Oncologist) can get the additional information directly from the company.
My radiation oncologist requested this test for me, but any of your doctors can. AND it is FREE in Canada!
Hi
I did talk to my oncologist yesterday about this test. He is aware of it. And they are doing it at the hospital. Where I am going to be going for my radiation.
Me with a padded bra.
@toomanyquestions - You are an inspiration! Thank you for the photo!!!
HUGS,
D.
@toomanyquestions - Thank you so much for your reply! You are really of comfort to so many other women who may be dealing with similar decisions. One of the most important things you are making very clear is that we all have the right to decide what we want our bodies to look like.
I totally agree with you regarding the selection of a trusted plastic surgeon. Seeing photos of before-after surgical treatment is VERY important. That is true for any type of plastic surgery, including reconstructions. Thanks for the “Not Putting on a Shirt” information too!
Stay well @toomanyquestions!
HUGS,
D.
@sue417 - Hello Sue, how are you? Would you like to share your news with us, following the appointment with your surgeon?
HUGS,
D.
Hi
I did not get the full report yet. The see the oncologist on Monday which is tomorrow. The surgeon did tell me that my specimen was 1 cm with clear margins and it should be two, but because it is all DCIS stage 0. He feels fine leaving me the way I am and not having me go through another surgery fir 1 cm. So that's all I know today. Tomorrow I will find out everything.
Also I did pass the information onto my oncology coordinator ordination regarding the DCISion rt test not sure if that's the right name
@sue417 - I am pleased you have at least some of the information! Regarding the margins, can you clarify an important point? You said the surgeon stated your clear margins were 1 cm and should be 2 cm. Do you actually mean 1 mm? Take a look at below link;
"... additional surgery may not be justified for patients with negative margins < 2 mm who undergo RT but should be performed in patients who forego RT."
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6051916/#:~:text=Recent%20national%20consensus%20guidelines%20recommend,managing%20negative%20margins%20%3C%202%20mm.
In other words, according to the above and other studies, if your margin is UNDER 2 mm (NOT 2 cm), you may need either re-excision OR Radiation Therapy.
HUGS!
D
@sue417 - Very good! Yes, you have it right: DCISionRT, by PreludeDX. It is the test that is now available in Canada. As I mentioned previously, you and your doctors (Surgeon, Oncologist, and Radiation Oncologist) can get the additional information directly from the company.
My radiation oncologist requested this test for me, but any of your doctors can. AND it is FREE in Canada!
HUGS!
D.
Hi
Honestly, it could be millimeter. I don't know my head swims when I talk to these people. I saw the oncologist yesterday and he really couldn't give me any more information. I have no idea if I'm estrogen. Positive or negative, he said that's a question for the London radiologist. So now I am waiting for that phone call. Then I will have to go down to London which is an hour away for a consult.
Hi
I did talk to my oncologist yesterday about this test. He is aware of it. And they are doing it at the hospital. Where I am going to be going for my radiation.