I had the unexpected and shocking diagnosis of provisional DCIS Breast cancer on Valentine's Day.
Two core biopsies were taken and both showed malignancy at intermediate and high grades of oestrogen positive 8 and progesterone positive 6 breast cancer. The area of malignancy spans at least 3.9cm minimum.
My original consultant who broke the news was very nice and empathetic and told me that with mastectomy I would not need radiation therapy or endocrine therapy but the actual surgeon on the day (there are 14 of them, so it is random who you get), before she even carried out any surgery, told me I would definitely need endocrine therapy (lovestrol) and there isn't anything to rule out needing radiotherapy and chemo and further surgery. She was so clinical, matter of fact and cold that she took away all my hope as I told her but she just told me that I was the miserable and pessimistic one!
I am still in shock and disbelief about this new reality of my life, particularly now post-mastectomy which feels even worse. Telling my friends and family has been horrendous and I have had to cancel my Easter holidays. It is miserable beyond words and now I have to wait about eight weeks for the pathology results of the removed breast and lymph nodes. To think two months ago I was walking around oblivious to this. It was only picked up on in routine screening, although by chance I had a mammogram 10 months ago that was clear! So much for three yearly screening.
