u/oldandnew2

**"**No cancer signal was found at this time. This does not rule out the presence of cancer or predict whether you will develop cancer in the future. Not all cancers can be detected in the blood or by the GRAIL Cancer Test. With that said, in a clinical study, less than 1% of individuals with a “cancer signal not detected” result had cancer."

I got this result in March. April mammmogram led to biopsy which confirmed early stage breast cancer. To be fair, Function say not to skip mammograms, and no woman should. But if your concern is breast cancer you might be better served by paying for breast MRI than a blood test.

My husband's company offers health insurance through Cigna. We called them tonight asking whether 3 places I am exploring getting care are in-network (Moffitt, Mayo, CRBS). And they all are! We've met our deductible and max out of pocket for the year, so it seems like this is going to be straightforward and simple, with no billing battles. That shouldn't feel so surreal, but it does.

I know I'm incredibly fortunate to be diagnosed early (DCIS), to have supportive family, and the ability to utilize the wealth of information available here. My heart goes out to all the people in this club, and I thank you so much for hanging around to help new members like me.

I'd like to hear all I can about mastectomy with direct autologous reconstruction DIEP. Seems like a very rough recovery, but possibly only ONE recovery. I think my second choice would be aesthetic flat closure. I know surgeons in many places are doing them, but so far I've only read positive things about the Center for Restorative Breast Surgery.

How do you choose a patient educator there? How do (or - do you) choose the surgical team? Will they get me in quickly since I have cancer? I've heard of people waiting months but perhaps that is for reconstruction after the cancer is gone.

I'm conflicted about having reconstruction at all - I think I could bring myself to feel okay about going flat. What I have now looks nice in a supportive bra - but they get droopier every year. But OTOH, I don't wear heels or makeup - so I worry that I'd look older and much less feminine without breasts. I'm 61 and headed toward not giving a FF what others think - but I'm not there yet.

Any specifics you can share about direct to DIEP, especially at the Breast Center, would be greatly appreciated. I think if I decide on flat closure there would be no reason to travel and I'd find a surgeon at Moffitt. But if I want the best chance at "one and done" I'm thinking it should be in New Orleans.

I was diagnosed with stage 0, intermediate grade, ER positive DCIS in my left breast last week. And was already considering full DMX, straight to autolotous reconstruction. I know I'm lucky to have a range of choices available because this was caught so early, and it is only a 6mm area.

Ideally, I'd avoid both radiation and estrogen blockers - in fact I'd like to get back on HRT if all my breast tissue is gone. I think that is possible in some cases? As I read hear about women with recurrences and ongoing battles I feel motivated to do what I can to survive this as an unpleasant episode, not a continuing series.

But now my MRI shows a 9mm linear non-mass enhancement in the the other breast with persistent enhancement kinetics, Bi-Rad 4, MR biopsy recommended. The bruising from the first 12 core, vacuum assist biopsy hasn't fully resolved! And nothing new came up on the left. So maybe the enhancment finding on the right isn't cancer, and maybe a small lumpectomy is still appropriate option for the left. This testing and analysis stage sucks.

What do you wish you had known when you were in my position?