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Pre cancerous cells in breast

Hoopla
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Hi, I was told a week ago that I have pre cancerous cells in my right breast and need to have a mastectomy. I'm still reeling a bit  but trying to take things a step at a time.

Right now, I'm wondering if having pre cancerous cells in one part of the body means there may be more elsewhere? I'm struggling to believe that I'll simply have the breast removed and reconstructed and that's that if you know what I mean? 

  • in reply to Hoopla

    Hi Hoopla, 

    I noticed you were a bit anxious so I just wanted to share some information we have on our website about breast reconstruction.

    I hope this helps to ease your worries but if you have any other questions our cancer nurses are just a phone call away. You can contact them on 0808 800 4040, Monday - Friday between 9a.m - 5p.m.

    Kind regards, 

    Steph, Cancer Chat Moderator

  • Offline

    Hi I had a mastectomy and reconstruct shoulder flap on  the 9th September this year, DCIS.  Early onset cancer in a cluster and another dotted area. I thought I was okay as it hadn't spread to the lymphs.  Been told today that they agreed in a conference review that they haven't got some of the cells at the front of the breast area so I am now going for 3 weeks of radiotherapy as they said it will definitely develop into cancer in the next couple of years if I don't.   The other option was a second mastectomy but they said that radiotherapy was the best option.  I'm in a bit in shock as I thought I was going to talk about my nipple reconstruction today. Bit hard to take in at the moment but I am hoping that they will stop it with the treatment.  Also been diagnosed with lymphadoema so dealing with that at the moment. Hope everything turned out okay for you.

  • Offline in reply to Magpiemaggie

    Dear [@Hoopla]‍  - just read your post and wondered how you are coming along? I've recently been treated with an almost identical cancer diagnosis (early stage, lumpectomy, not spread to lymphs, precancerous cells removal...), starting tamoxifen soon - not looking forward to that! Any tips welcome... Otherwise do hope you are well!

  • in reply to LouiseBP

    Hi LouiseBP,

    Welcome to Cancer Chat. I have tagged Hoopla in your post so hopefully they are more likely to see it, although it looks like they haven't been active on the forum in a few years.

    If you don't receive a reply, do feel free to create your own new discussion on the forum to hopefully get other replies.

    Wishing you all the best,

    Ben
    Cancer Chat Moderator

  • Offline in reply to LouiseBP

    Hi LouiseBP

    I see Ben has included Hoopla in your post. I have been through the same as you and if I can be of any help/support I would be happy to chat.

  • Offline in reply to LouiseBP

    Dear [@LouiseBP]‍ - just found this site and your post. I was diagnosed earlier this year with very similar form of cancer. But because my "healthy" breast was filled with very dense breast tissue they recommended to a bilateral mastectomy. When the breast tissue is dense it's very hard to differentiate between malignant and benign lumps with either a mammogram or ultrasound. I was on Tamoxifen for a little before the surgery. It's been 4 weeks since the operation and I am doing well.

    They have however advised me that although the successfully removed the tumour (sized between 0.5 - 1cm) there is a thin layer of DCIS(precancerous) cells left behind. So they want me to have a 25 day course of radiation.

    So now I'm researching the impact of radiation and breast implants as well as the discolouration that apparently happens to the skin. They are also recommending Tamoxifen for a period of 5 years once the radiation has been completed. Not feeling that script and so I'm researching alternative and natural ways of lowering estrogen levels.

    Let me know how you are coping.

  • Offline

    Hi,

    Sorry to hear about your diagnosis. My mum has the same thing in one of her breasts, precancerous cells and had a mastectomy. She did not need anything else after except medication. She chose not to have a reconstruction. She recovered very quickly from this as well and was in her early 60s at the time. 
    You may be able to get more answers to your other questions from your breast team. 

    Not sure if it helps to hear but I currently have breast cancer, a 3cm lump and another cancerous lump showed up in my MRI, I had a CT scan which showed another lump in the same breast but as of yet nobody knows what it is. My lymph nodes also had cancer in them. However my CT scan showed there was not cancer anywhere else in my body. I was convinced there must be but cancer in one area doesn't always mean it will have spread elsewhere. Only further scans can show if there is any spread and your team will be able to answer any questions regarding this.

     

    Hope all goes well for you and wishing you the best.

  • Offline in reply to Magpiemaggie

    Hi - thanks for the reply. Am doing okay as far as I can tell. Was on Milpharm Taxoxifen initially (since April) and after a spate of nausea/dizziness I cut my dose to 10mg to let my body get used to it, and then upping dose to regular 20mg (half morning/half evening).

    However, the pharmacist couldn't get hold of any more because the suppliers apparently sell old stock first before dealing with any new orders. Seems very wrong to me, particularly if you've found a brand that suits you. Now trying Teva. This has had good reviews, so fingers crossed!

    Do hope all goes well with you...

  • Offline in reply to IrmGood

    Hi - thanks for the response.

    Am doing okay I think. Had lumpectomy for 1 cm lump and during op they put in a localised radiotherapy 'pellet' to tackle any remaining cancer cells and then they went in again a fortnight later to remove some precancerous cells that hadn't shown up. Not too many I understand. My consultant told me that a further course of radiotherapy would not help get rid of the precancerous cells as this works best against cancer itself, but that we can keep this option in reserve should the cancer come back (hope not!). They took two lymph nodes out and these were clear. So far so good.

    The scar is not too bad and my breast still looks more or less normal, so I should think of myself as lucky, but somehow that doesn't feel like the right word... I am post menopause and feel so sorry for younger women who have to go through this.

    I am now on Tamoxifen. Was rather nervous of possible side effects, but only had one week of nausea on the brand that was given to me (Milpharm), so decided to take only 10mg per day until my body got used to it and it's been fine, but upping the dose now and intend to take half in the morning and half at night (as this is supposed to help too). However, like many others on this site, keeping to the brand that suits you can be difficult because apparently suppliers sit on new stock until they get rid of the old - which is very wrong I think - so my pharmacist has had a bit of job getting hold of more and despite the fact that the manufacturers said they had plenty... After doing some research, I'm now going to try Teva which has had good reviews. 

    You may know that it's the 'fillers' included with the Taxoxifen that cause the trouble. More than one breast cancer nurse told me this and also my pharmacist, although some doctors don't seem to be convinced. I wish they would take time to read the experiences of women on this forum and other breast cancer chat rooms and I think they might change their minds.

    A tip: Evening Primrose Oil can help some women with hot flushes. This is something my consultant radiotherapist told me. A study was done and something like half of women benefitted from taking it.  You do need to take at least 6gm per day (6 x 1000 capusules) which I am doing. Side effects are minimal. Have always taken it actually as I had quite bad PMT and it seemed to help and is great for the skin. It does take a few weeks to feel the benefits... Sage is also supposed to be helpful as is Vitamin D in decent doses (look up scientific reviews on this).

    As Tamoxifen's job is supposed to reduce estrogen, I'm trying to look at this horrible medication/experience as you might look at easing symptoms of the menopause because the effects are similar. Again, my very understanding consultant said that some women's nickname for Tamoxifen is "tamoxi-***" which at least made me smile, but he insisted on calling it a "cancer vitamin" because he believes it does so much more good than harm... Let's all hope so.

    Take lots of care in the meantime!

  • Offline in reply to LouiseBP

    Hi LouiseBP

    I guess you will have started on Tamoxifen by now and hope all is going well 

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