DCIS and Mastectomy

Hi there, I recently been diagnosed with hight-grade DCIS on my right breast. Doctor told me that mastectomy is the only choice I have. 

When she described pros and cons, I thought I should have had a double mastectomy because she said they had to intervene on the left breast to make both similar. I thought they would have done all in one surgery, so I had sone pain but no forther surgeries.

When I had the second meeting with her and I asked about the left breast, she said it is ok and does not need mastectomy. Maybe something after a year to make it similar to the other one.

She also said that I will have a huge scar on my right breast, niple removed and after a year maybe a tatoo. 

She said that because I have a big breast, size f, the implant will be heavy and it will need some type of support inside my skin.

English is not my first language and so I feel very uncomfortable. I feel I have not enough words to descibe my feeling and my concerns.

I tried to explain to her that I am feeling devastated. I cannot cope with it. I am having daily meltdown. I cry every day. I am 54 and I am unable to accept my body will be devastated having a breast with a huge scar, no niple, smaller than the left one. 

Can I ask for a second opinion?

Could I request a double mastectomy and reconstruction if only in left breast?

Can I have some help? Evwn if I have my husband on my side, I feel alone and I feel the doctor is unable to understand my feelings. She is not emphatetic at all.

I am thinking that I rather prefer to keep my breast as it is with no mastectomy and just wait to die.

Thank you for reading it, and thank you to whoever will take the time to answer.

  • Hello and welcome to this forum .I am so sorry to hear your story .I had double mastectomies two years ago and chemotherapy. All that went really well and I have had silicone implants now ,that was done last Monday . 
    Don’t despair , my friend had large breasts and asked to have the other one reduced . Have a good chat with them and find out what your options are . The scar doesn’t look too bad either ,it will be very neat and it doesn’t hurt . You will have a soft prosthesis first and then a slightly heavier one . I found them comfortable..I am 62 and felling good now . Try and think positively and keep in touch xx

  • You could ask for a second opinion, have they discussed further treatment with you ? Usually they would not do immediate reconstructive surgery if you have to have radiotherapy,as that affects the implant .Try and make a list of things you want to find out and talk to them again xx

  • Thank you for your answer and sharing your experience. I will telephone them tomorrow and ask for a second opinion.