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40-49
Barbara T.
Breast Cancer, Stage 1

One day as I was lifted my left arm to shave under it, I detected some tenderness around the nipple area. I felt around and without a doubt, a lump was just off to the left of my nipple. 

Being on a Sunday night, I called my ob/gyn first thing Monday morning and got an appointment. My doctor examined me and contacted a surgeon and set up an appointment for an ultrasound. I had a lumpectomy done. He took 2 lymph nodes out of my left arm and the tumor was the size of a golf ball. He had to take a very large section out to see about my margins, down to my pectoral muscle. I went and saw the doctor a few days later and yes there were small cancer cells in the tumor and I have DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ) in my margins. The nodes came clear, but now that about a third of my breast is gone, I知 worried as to what to do. 

He will be sending me to an oncologist as well as my radiation doctor to educate me about my odds if I keep the rest of my breast. Of course, my doctor said since he is a surgeon and thinks like one, he wants to finish taking the rest of my breast. But on the other hand, he wants me to see these two other doctors first, and he will contact them himself on their opinion. 

I go back in 2 weeks to give my decision. Right now I知 not that educated on DCIS. I知 the youngest of 3 girls; none of us has ever had any cancer problems before. I guess I値l just wait till next week and see what my two new doctors have to say about it and go from there. Without the support of my terrific sisters, my husband and my mother, I壇 be lost. They have been there for me from the first office visit to my surgery last March and they値l be there until this is over. 

Scared? Very much so. Loved and supported? Very Much So!

Barbara T.

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