Diagnosed with DCIS: How do I decide on treatment?

I have DCIS stage 0 and am having lumpectimy Wednesday. How long should I expect to recover and have any of you decided not to do radiation or hormone therapy?

Update - October 8, 2023
Yes, I did choose radiation (20 sessions) after being told the odds of recurrence were so much lower with radiation. And this week I had my first mammo screening and the result was “no malignancy indicated”. So far so good.

It was shocking but fortunately very short lived… and it allowed my breast surgeon to trace the path to two positive sentinel nodes. An additional 5 nodes ( next in line) were negative. It was reassuring to hear that.

Before these tracers were possible radical surgery of nodal environment was done. This very painful but also very quick experience has the potential to save us unnecessary harm.

So, we brace ourselves and do it ! Breast Cancer treatment is not for the faint of heart .

Best to all of us on this unwanted journey. 🌸

Ty that is exactly what I think too. This would never be tolerated by men.
I also was not expecting the pain to be so acute. I took screamed and jumped off the table. Then burst into tears
It definitely should be done with an anesthetic.
I complained through a follow up survey and a representative called me. I told her it was barbaric to give such a painful shot to a sensitive area. It started the day off terribly.

I’m sure you’re probably feeling a little terrified and overwhelmed by all the tests, scans, and information being literally thrown at you from all directions. My advice like the others have said, sit down, be still and breathe. Then start writing down the questions you have about what’s next, your greatest ally will be learning about your cancer, look up words you don’t understand, familiarize yourself with procedures, what they’re for and how they will help give you the best outcome. I was diagnosed with stage II IDC which had spread to my lymph nodes on the right breast and LCIS in the left breast. I knew during the biopsy that something was very bad just by the change in the doctor and the nurses demeanor. This was back in Aug 2017, at the time I wasn’t able to process everything, I only felt sick and empty. I thank god for my sister, she was my rock. One person on here had a great idea, ask the doctors if they mind if you record the consultations so that you will be able to understand at your, get definitions of words that sound like they’re made up, when you understand what’s going to happen and why you’ll hopefully get to have a say in your treatment plan. This will give you back a feeling of control of your destiny. In Feb2023 I finished all therapies and was officially declared in remission. My heart and prayers are with you, may your surgery, treatment, and recovery be the best outcomes possible for you. Also, this is a very good site to come back for support, information, and wisdom from those who have intimate knowledge of what you’re going through each and every step of the way. Find peace…

Oh, I had one BIG shot in the nipple, and it was definitely an open mouth scream! I was not expecting that, and I too do not see a reason why it can't be done when you are already under anesthesia. Crazy. If it was men, they would never be expected to deal with that pain.

Ouch sorry to hear that happens. At the Massey cancer center they do that while I was in surgery so they can make sure they get clear margins and check all lymphs with the dye. Maybe that should talked about before checking the lymphs system,

The shots have nothing to do with radiation. I had mine before surgery to inject a dye to try to see the path of the cancer cells towards
the lymph nodes. I survived the first three, but the fourth was a closed mouth scream.

Okay. They check my lymphs while I was in surgery. My oncologist check 4 of them and only 2 had cancer. So while in surgery for my lump and lymph nodes to make sure she got clear margins. So why don’t they do in surgery. It would make more sense to me. I went to a teaching school. VCU Massey Cancer Center in Virginia. To me they are the best.

I believe they are talking about having the sentinel node biopsy surgery. I had that done and they gave me 4 shots of blue dye in the nipple so they could detect my sentinel nodes. It definitely hurt! I thought they would have at least given some type of medication to relax me beforehand but they didn’t. It was not fun that is for sure!!