Hi, I wanted to update my post to you from a while back… I just had a bilateral mastectomy last Thursday. I had chosen this route because after 3 lumpectomies I still had DCIS in the margin plus they found a little invasive and LCIS as well.
The pain for me has been minimal so far, sort of a gravity pull when I stand up and a bit of general body ache in the late afternoon. I think some of this is due to wearing the compression wrap 24/7 because your body expands and contracts throughout the day. Tylenol has been my friend but I haven’t needed anything stronger.
My pathology came back 2 days ago and there was still nearly 3 cm of DCIS in my previously affected breast and atypical lobular hyperplasia (ALH) in my unaffected breast . This tells me I absolutely made the right decision in having the mastectomy. Who knows how long it might have been before I had cancer in that breast as well? I would not want that constant worry. I am 55 years old, ready to live the rest of my life … flat and fabulous! 💕

@mjmac
I was part of a research study to see if anastrozole would shrink tumor and ki67 level, which it did. I stuck it out 6 months but was SO ready to get the cancer out. I had lumpectomy and two positive lymph nodes removed. I had terrible time while on anastrozole prior to surgery. I would cry constantly. I stopped anastrozole few weeks prior to surgery and almost immediately felt better. I refused to take after surgery, but I did tried other AIs instead.

Everyone reacts to drugs and treatment differently. It would be great if there was a one solution that fit everyone, but we are all individual.

If tumor is shrinking, it is worth the wait. It will give you more options. Most important thing is to advocate for yourself.