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Diagnosed with DCIS: How do I decide on treatment?
Breast Cancer | Last Active: Mar 20 10:00am | Replies (345)Comment receiving replies
Hi, I also have the micro calcifications. I’ve been researching the treatments after surgery. I’m new to this so I hope asking a question won’t be offensive…….
Since you had another type of breast cancer 2 years later, did you have radiation or hormone therapy after having the lumpectomy with the micro calcifications prior to that?
I’m 62 & also thinking about the quality of life these treatments effect. I’m not sure I want to give up 5 years of life feeling like crap because of a med & having additional testing to watch for health issues caused by the side effects.. I already have issues with bone, joint pain (arthritis) I have family history on both sides of heart problems (oldest person to live on my fathers side was 63!) I have low energy daily, thinning hair due to age & I don’t want to risk a worse cancer of the liver or uterus. My mom had Osteoporosis so I may be a candidate for that as well since I’ve never been tested. From what I’ve researched meds would only exasperate what I already deal with daily. With radiation you have to be monitored the rest of your life for heart disease or lung cancer (former smoker for 45 years) since radiation effects last the rest of your life. These problems almost sound scarier than the possibility of a breast cancer returning.
Replies to "Hi, I also have the micro calcifications. I’ve been researching the treatments after surgery. I’m new..."
I hope you consider getting tested for osteoporosis, given your mother's medical history. This is one area where lack of knowledge can put people at unnecessary risk and knowledge can lead to treatment.
For what it's worth, my oncologists aren't overly concerned about micro-calcifications unless occur with other cancer signals. That might vary from patient to patient or differing levels of dense tissue or something. But they don't routinely remove them absent other markers of risk.
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For the micro calcifications - I did not have any further treatment. Just made sure I got my annual mammogram. They were in a similar area where my subsequent IDC was found 2 years later. I never asked the oncologist if they could be related. I was 62 when diagnosed with BC. I know it's worrying - but if it's just micro calcifications - get them taken out and make sure you get annual exams.
My Right breast was involved - so I had radiation there. I was NEVER told I had to worry about heart disease or lung cancer from the radiation. And I really trust my radiologist. I get a bone scan every year and take 2000 units of D3 Oil every day. My bones have been stable on the AI. I was switched after 12 months from anastrozole to Exemestane. My joint pain resolved and I also have arthritis. Each person had their own side effects to each drug. You need to work with an oncologist that you need to Trust.
My main side effect now is insomnia. I have 14 more months to get to 5 years. I'm determined to make that. MOST people on an AI have NO side effects - something like 60% of them. I've met ladies who went the 5 years with no side effects. People with no side effects - do not post on this forum.
If breast cancer returns - it most likely comes back in your bones, brain, liver or lungs. To me that was scarier than side effects. If you do get a BC, make sure you have the OncoDX test. It's also an indicator of how likely it will come back. A test done on the tumor tissue.
I need to add - I was taking Prempro as a hormone replacement for like about 22 years and had only started to stop taking it a few months before being diagnosed with breast cancer. I was aware of the risks of Prempro (main one being breast cancer) - so let me just say I felt so much better on it, I assumed I'd never have to worry about breast cancer. So I took a risk & lost. Looking back I should have stopped it after I turned 50. I was 39 when I went into menopause. I worked in IT and needed my brain to be sharp for work & felt the Prempro helped. I'll never know if the Prempro was the cause or not. When I discussed it with my oncologist - she said it may have contributed but probably was not the sole cause. If they knew the real causes - they'd let us know!