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What helped you make treatment decisions following DCIS lumpectomy?

Posted by denise4sure @dposie, Oct 11, 2021

I had a stage 0 grade 1 low grade. Decided against radiation. Little difference between reoccurence percentages. Spoke to oncologist today about hormone treatment. I am 67 yrs old and working. Recommended that I take anastrozole if I do not have bone loss problems. If I do it will be Tamoxifen. I will decide soon. My greatest concerns are quality of life and side effects, which I've read comments about them here. It's a tough decision. What was helpful in making your decision?

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elliej | @elliej | Oct 20, 2022
In reply to @jeanadair123 "I also had grade one, decided on lumpectomy and radiation but I had radiation in the..." + (show)
@jeanadair123

I also had grade one, decided on lumpectomy and radiation but I had radiation in the prone position which effects your other organs less, I only learned of this through a nurse I was talking to who said her mother had radiation in the prone position, she hadn’t heard of it either, it makes me wonder why no one knows of this no one I have spoken to in my cancer group were aware of this. I tried anastrozole and a couple of others but I felt like I was 100 years old I could barely get out of a chair the side effects were awful. I went with the quality of life. It is up to each individual to do what they feel is right for them.

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I’ll ask about the prone position. Tnx

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anjalima | @anjalima | Oct 20, 2022
In reply to @elliej "Thanks for your post. I’m currently deciding what treatment to take, radiation or AI. This has..." + (show)
@elliej

Thanks for your post. I’m currently deciding what treatment to take, radiation or AI. This has been a hard decision for me. I conflicted on side effects of both since I’m 73, relatively healthy ( looming Osteopenia). Has anyone experience to help decision making. My OncoType is 16. 🌼

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I choose AI , at 71 ( until Saturday). No obvious side effects. Radiation was scary to me and as it addresses local / regional and I had a unilateral mastectomy I felt “ cleaned out” of breast tissue. I had 2 positive sentinel nodes and 5 next in line we’re negative…

AI is systemic. My understanding was AI was prescribed even if I had chosen radiation.

Hope this helps you on your journey… these decisions are very challenging and the learning curve is steep! 🌸

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elliej | @elliej | Oct 20, 2022
In reply to @anjalima "I choose AI , at 71 ( until Saturday). No obvious side effects. Radiation was scary..." + (show)
@anjalima

I choose AI , at 71 ( until Saturday). No obvious side effects. Radiation was scary to me and as it addresses local / regional and I had a unilateral mastectomy I felt “ cleaned out” of breast tissue. I had 2 positive sentinel nodes and 5 next in line we’re negative…

AI is systemic. My understanding was AI was prescribed even if I had chosen radiation.

Hope this helps you on your journey… these decisions are very challenging and the learning curve is steep! 🌸

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Thank you for your response. I am awaiting my meetings tomorrow with both docs, Radio Oncologist and Oncologist. I’m going to ask specific questions as treatment will pertain to my needs, and fears. Both treatments are scary, short time and long term. Blessings, hugs

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1 reply
windyshores | @windyshores | Oct 21, 2022
In reply to @elliej "Thank you for your response. I am awaiting my meetings tomorrow with both docs, Radio Oncologist..." + (show)
@elliej

Thank you for your response. I am awaiting my meetings tomorrow with both docs, Radio Oncologist and Oncologist. I’m going to ask specific questions as treatment will pertain to my needs, and fears. Both treatments are scary, short time and long term. Blessings, hugs

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Many of us who did AI's did not have a hard time. Respect to those who did, but hoping your fear can be less knowing that these meds aren't always hard to tolerate.

I answered more on another thread 🙂 Good luck!

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polianad22 | @polianad22 | Nov 26, 2022
In reply to @auntieoakley "@beckypetty i agree about over 70 and radiation. I am very curious about eo massage, what..." + (show)
@auntieoakley

@beckypetty i agree about over 70 and radiation. I am very curious about eo massage, what is it, and has it helped with the mass after surgery? How long ago was your cancer?

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@auntieoakley Essential oil recommended :
https://essentialoil-life.com/products/young-living-helichrysum-essential-oil-5ml

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1 reply
Mentor
Chris, Volunteer Mentor | @auntieoakley | Nov 26, 2022
In reply to @polianad22 "@auntieoakley Essential oil recommended : https://essentialoil-life.com/products/young-living-helichrysum-essential-oil-5ml" + (show)

Well, thanks for the info, I was curious about what oil @beckypetty was using for her massage on the site of her surgery.
The price tag certainly packs a wallop for a massage oil.
It talks about how nice it smells, and if I was freshly diagnosed and the smell really spoke to me (like some do), I might pay it but chances are against it. Lol
What about this helped you make decisions after DCIS?

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cjketts | @cjketts | Jan 21, 2023

I have recently been diagnosed with dcis and am now in the planning stage for a lumpectomy. My tumor measures 5mm. My surgeon is planning on using the Savi Scott to mark the tumor. My understanding is that she will need to make an approximate incision of 3 - 4 inches for the probe and to remove the tumor. The tumor is less than 1/4 of an inch. This just seems so excessive to me. Is this standard procedure? Does laparoscopic surgery not exist for a lumpectomy?
My DCISionRT score from my biopsy indicates I am low risk, and will not need radiation. I was diagnosed 6 months ago and have been using anastrozole. I was going to try the wait and see method, with mammograms and ultrasounds every 6 months, but the stress I feel from the unknown and from my doctor to have surgery has made me decide to have the lumpectomy.
Mostly just wondering if laparoscopic surgery is an option.
Thanks,

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maureenmckean | @maureenmckean | Jan 22, 2023

I had a lumpectomy for ADH. It was really an easy recovery. Day surgery and could go back to work after a day depending on your job.

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janana113 | @janana113 | Jan 22, 2023

I was diagnosed with DCIS Stage 0 in September 2022. I had my lumpectomy in December. My incision is between 4-5 inches. I went back to work 2 days post surgery. It was basically uneventful.

A Savi-Scout marker was placed pre-surgery. My surgeon said that she found a 2nd patch of abnormal cells during surgery that didn’t show in the pre-surgery X-rays and scans.

My post surgery plan of care is 33 radiology appointments and possibly hormone treatment.

I too question the need for hormonal treatment.

Please continue to post your experience for all of us who are looking for confirmation of our experience.

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kazzerq8 | @kazzerq8 | May 14, 2023

I recently had a lumpectomy and I have just started radiation fir 4 wks
How have the side affects been and has anyone had a reoccurrence, was told it’s a 99% success rate but wondering if there’s anything else I can do to make sure it doesn’t

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