Hi all, 

I was diagnosed last week with DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma in Situ) follwing my first routine mamogram and subsequent call back for biopsy. Its all a bit out of the blue! Thankfully what I have is early stage and is not 'active' in the sense that it cannot threaten my health in the current stage. To make sure it can never then become a threat then it has to be removed. So I had that news last monday (12th October) and learned that I would have lumpectomy and then radiotherapy ........and set off to do my research! 

Then the next day the nurse called me to say the consultant would like to see me again to discuss furhter with me....so back I went on Monday and learned that the area covered by the DCIS is too wide and too near to the skin and nipple at one end, and as I dont have that much breast to work with, then mastectomy is the best option. Fortunately I had prepared myself to ehar that too, so wasnt too taken aback. I am now trying to get my head around wether to have immediate reconstruction and if so, what type. I am looking at DIEP flap - as this doesnt involve the muscle, but of course the surgeon will advice me more. I dont want th eLD (back) flap as it is on the side where I already have arthiritis in that shoulder so I think the least trauma there the better!

I would welcome any helpful advice, recovery stories and hand tips to either make my decision and or to help me to prepare for what to expect after surgery. I am a very practical person and not so worried about the emotional effects ( I am a Cognitive Behavioural Therapist and my background is in mental health nursing)  - I know it will have an emotional imapact though :

thank you for your time xx