Hi I have been off work since January after receiving diagnosis of DCIS intermediate.on the 6th. I had had two biopsies.which started in October and had to have another on another part of my breast due to seperate small areas showing up. Luckily one of those areas tested was benign I was told on 20th and meant I avoided a mastectomy. I had a lumpectomy on 23rd january to remove a 5cm area (also told due to size of breasts I avoided a. Mastectomy as quite a large area). The surgeon moved quickly as he said I had been through enough already. When I received results he said it was actually bigger.than first thought at 7 5cm but the edges were clear which was a relief. However he then told me invasive cancer had been found in tissue removed which was a shock. My first diagnosis took me a.while to get my head round but that floored me. On 4th.of this month I had sentinel lymph node removal and experiencing numbness now and more uncomfortable. I have to go back the 30th for results., he seemed hopeful they will be OK but obviously I wasn't expecting to hear I had invasive cancer at last appointment. I still need 3 weeks Radiotherapy on full breast to make sure all the other seperate areas are zapped but I'm signed off until 31st March and doctors have said to take as much time as I need. I doubt I will return to work until after treatment is complete as im not sleeping well through discomfort and overthinking. and finding it hard. We are all different and need our own time. I have kept busy as I am also doing a part time degree so working on bits of that when I feel like it and just spending time focusing on me. I'm quite a strong independent woman but I am having good and bad days. My Lumpectomy scar is around 4 inches but has healed well but find itmore comfortable without a bra especially with wound healing under arm as steri strips still on. The hospital have been so thorough and amazing thank goodness I had pilot scheme of early Screening at 47 and then the one when I turned 50 showed the change in tissue so I feel thankful to the NHS.