Diagnosed with DCIS: How do I decide on treatment?

I did bilateral mastectomy with flat closure. My pain level has never been over a 5. Honestly I had more trouble with the oxy, it was too much. (10mg -Dizzy,hot flashes, blood pressure dropped) while getting it through the iv. Dropped dosage to 5 mg orally with Tylenol was better. I took the oxy for 5 days and then switched to Tylenol only. Got my drains out today (2 weeks) and will not have to do meds for being Er positive since it was not invasive. I didn’t need a plastic surgeon my Oncology surgeon did it all. I am able to start moving and stretching my arms more this week. I’m still tired but feel pretty good considering. It’s alot but I felt like the bilateral mastectomy with no reconstruction was the quickest and best % of recurrence way to go. My goal was no cancer and the least amount of trauma on my body.

I just read this article about radiation for older women:
https://www.statnews.com/2023/02/15/older-breast-cancer-patients-study-radiation-survival-rates/

I also had DCIS, had a lumpectomy, 20 rounds of radiation, and have now been on tamoxifen for 2 1/2 years. I have no side effects.

Hi. Hope you have a speedy recovery.

I was diagnosed with DCIS with micro invasion on right breast. Surgeon recommended mastectomy so I’m seriously considering bilateral. Going to see a 5th plastic surgeon today as I’ve had issues finding both surgeons that work out of the same hospital. Did have nipple sparing or were they removed? How is your pain management so far?
Praying for you

Thank you so much. I've had a conversation with the radiologist. I asked many of questions cause at first my mind was set on doing only the 5 years of pills, as I spoke to my surgeon first about it and she told me if it was her, she would do the pill. The pills work on both breast where the radiation is focus on that 1 breast. Now with me knowing about the burns and then thinking about just maybe there might be a piece that my Dr did not get, and the machines are not able to detect it I decided to do it. She also told me I hit a record in that hospital, and I am looking at her dumb founded lol ok so what do you mean! She said out of all the people she seen for DCIS I broke the record of having the biggest. Oooh k!! She said I was 12 cm and that's y I was cut corner to corner. Me my son and husband looked at each other paused for a min and right then it made me realize, do radiation just in case, even though my Dr said she has gotten it all out and she also taken a lot of my tissues and nipple all was checked and everything was normal. Me I'm a joker asked her well can I have my nipple and breast tissues back haha. I also got some information from family members of mines that went through radiation said, Peaches get some pure coco butter and apply it way before you have the radiation which helps and keeps it from burning and turning dark. My Dr said they will give me a cream, but I shouldn't have any issues. Keeping my fingers cross and remembering your message 😉 Shoot I get enough burns cooking at home frying chicken lol. I can't remember but I think that is the same meds I will be getting also that you're taking. I can't swallow pills, but she did show me a picture and it is about the size of a baby aspirin. I also wanted to know the side effects...You're in my prayers.

It is absolutely an individual decision and no one’s diagnosis is the exact same. We are all unique yet we have a common enough thread for us to understand one another.
I also opted to have radiation. My surgeon encouraged it. I did 25 rounds. 5 days a week no weekends. I will be honest, around day 14 I felt the burn and lathered in the cream they prescribed me. But everyone’s skin is different I pray that you fair it well. After radiation was done I began Tamoxofin, as I am estrogen and progesterone positive. I wish you well on your radiation journey. It goes quick I can at least promise you that.

I went for a second opinion, and thank God I did. I'm facing two types of cancer and many months of treatment. I am scheduled for a mastectomy in a week. Ladies, get that second opinion.

Thank God you went and did the right thing and not waited around. I've noticed it on a website and on YouTube. There is a lot of information floating around and most people might follow along because they may think they're in the same situation, and it's like your mind is playing tricks on you. I am truly blessed because I am 63 and haven't had a Mammo in 15 years and made that decision to make an appointment. I was thinking stupid telling my Dr Oooh what I don't know, don't hurt. And I am so happy I called and made that appointment because this could of spread, and only God knows how long it has been sitting there. What I am saying is at the end of the day, you are the one that has to make that decision when it comes to your life. I'm waiting on the date now when to start my Radiation, which she said 3 weeks and 5 days out of the week. Also going to be on the medication for 5 years and then I need to have more surgery done making my left breast the size of my right breast that had the cancer. I will keep you and everyone dealing with cancer, along with other Illness in my prayers. Always!

I had lumpectomy removed my DCIS at the end of November 22. I could not make a decision if I should have radiation treatment. My tissue test results are as following:

Final Diagnosis
A. Lymph node, Right, Axillary, Sentinel, excision:
One reactive lymph node, negative for metastatic carcinoma (0/1).
B. Breast, Right, Partial Mastectomy:
Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), solid and cribriform type, intermediate grade.
Biopsy site changes.
Fibrocystic changes including apocrine metaplasia and cysts.

Breast DCIS Resection template (2022)

Procedure:
Excision (less than total mastectomy)

Specimen Laterality:
Right

Tumor Site:
Central, 10 o'clock

Histologic Type:
Ductal carcinoma in situ.

Size (Extent) of DCIS:
Estimated size (extent) of DCIS is at least in Millimeters (mm): ____8____ mm

Architectural Patterns:
Solid
Cribriform

Nuclear Grade:
Grade 2 (intermediate)

Necrosis (in DCIS):
Not identified

Margin Status:
All margins negative for DCIS
Distance from DCIS to Closest Margin: Superior:

I’m sorry you have to walk this out, it’s a lot. I just had a bilateral mastectomy with sentinel node biopsy on Feb 7th after finding dcis in left breast . My risk factor was high for recurrence with lumpectomy and radiation so I decided to take my best odds with mastectomy and also remove my right one so I wasn’t waiting for it to turn on me. Now my odds are even better to not have to deal with an invasive cancer. Praying for ya!