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• Cancer >> Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS) >> Age at diagnosis: 55-60 >> Jane - Interview 5 >> Jane felt that, had she been younger, having a mastectomy would have been harder. She said she could accept having a mastectomy because she was happil

Jane was diagnosed with DCIS in 2007, aged 58. She had a mastectomy and a DIEP flap breast reconstruction at the same time.

• Cancer >> Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS) >> Age at diagnosis: under 50 >> Jo - Interview 11 >> Although Jo grieved for her breast, her main concern was being there for her children.

Jo was diagnosed with DCIS in 2007, aged 42, over two years after seeing doctors about a bleeding nipple when she was breast-feeding. She had a mastectomy.

• Cancer >> Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS) >> Age at diagnosis: under 50 >> Felicity - Interview 23 >> For Felicity, the time before the mastectomy was harder than having the operation. Later, she was glad she had a mastectomy because she’d had widespre

Felicity was diagnosed with DCIS, aged 41, after being referred to a breast clinic because of breast pain. She had two excision operations, a mastectomy and radiotherapy.

• Cancer >> Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS) >> Age at diagnosis: 50-54 >> Gillian - Interview 4 >> Gillian felt losing her breast was like a bereavement. She felt anger, sadness and depression. Eventually, she had some counselling.

Gillian was diagnosed with high-grade DCIS in 2006, aged 50, a year after her first routine mammogram. She had two breast conserving operations and, later, a mastectomy.

• Cancer >> Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS) >> Age at diagnosis: 50-54 >> Patricia - Interview 7 >> Patricia was glad to have breast reconstruction because she disliked wearing a prosthesis and seeing herself in the mirror with only one breast.

Patricia was diagnosed with DCIS in 2007, aged 53. She had a mastectomy and LD flap reconstruction six months later. She will also be taking hormone therapy.

• Cancer >> Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS) >> Age at diagnosis: 50-54 >> Gillian - Interview 4 >> Gillian didn’t want reconstructive surgery for several reasons. She wanted to be as strong and healthy as possible and felt more surgery could cause o

Gillian was diagnosed with high-grade DCIS in 2006, aged 50, a year after her first routine mammogram. She had two breast conserving operations and, later, a mastectomy.

• Cancer >> Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS) >> Age at diagnosis: 50-54 >> Patricia - Interview 7 >> Patricia agreed with the doctor’s advice but, later, felt upset about having a mastectomy and really didn’t want one.

Patricia was diagnosed with DCIS in 2007, aged 53. She had a mastectomy and LD flap reconstruction six months later. She will also be taking hormone therapy.

• Cancer >> Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS) >> Age at diagnosis: 50-54 >> Sandra - Interview 1 >> Sandra is happier with her new breast now and plans to have her healthy breast lifted and nipple reconstruction.

Sandra was diagnosed with DCIS in 2007, aged 50. She had a mastectomy and immediate reconstruction using an implant. After surgery, Paget’s disease was also found.

• Cancer >> Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS) >> Age at diagnosis: under 50 >> Felicity - Interview 23 >> Not having a reconstruction was the right decision for Felicity because, after her mastectomy, she needed radiotherapy. She didn’t want any more surge

Felicity was diagnosed with DCIS, aged 41, after being referred to a breast clinic because of breast pain. She had two excision operations, a mastectomy and radiotherapy.

• Cancer >> Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS) >> Age at diagnosis: 55-60 >> Janet - Interview 30 >> Janet didn’t like the thought of reconstructive surgery. She said that, because she has a small breast, she is happy wearing a cumfie or prosthesis.

Janet was diagnosed with DCIS in 1997 after a routine mammogram and had a recurrence in 2003. She had a wide local excision and radiotherapy in 1997 and a mastectomy in 2003. She was also prescribed tamoxifen then.

• Cancer >> Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS) >> Age at diagnosis: 50-54 >> Linda - Interview 3 >> Linda describes the breast nurse as her rock – it was her job to be nice but they also developed a real empathy.

Linda was diagnosed with DCIS in 2007, aged 53. She had a wide local excision, followed by a mastectomy. She was also prescribed Nolvadex for five years.

• Cancer >> Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS) >> Age at diagnosis: 55-60 >> Ann - Interview 2 >> Ann sometimes wonders if she really needed a mastectomy. She tells herself there’s no point in thinking like that now and is happy with her reconstruc

Ann was diagnosed with DCIS in 2005, aged 56. She had a mastectomy and LD flap reconstruction at the same time. She is currently taking tamoxifen.

• Cancer >> Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS) >> Age at diagnosis: under 50 >> Pauline - Interview 28 >> Pauline explains why she chose to have an implant and what it involved. Her new breast felt harder than she expected but looked young and pert.

Pauline was diagnosed with DCIS in 2001, aged 49, after her first routine mammogram. She had two excisions, followed by a mastectomy and reconstruction using an implant. She also had radiotherapy and took tamoxifen for two years.

• Cancer >> Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS) >> Age at diagnosis: 50-54 >> Sandra - Interview 1 >> After a difficult time because of an infection, Sandra is now getting used to her new breast. She also feels better physically and emotionally.

Sandra was diagnosed with DCIS in 2007, aged 50. She had a mastectomy and immediate reconstruction using an implant. After surgery, Paget’s disease was also found.

• Cancer >> Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS) >> Age at diagnosis: under 50 >> Pauline - Interview 28 >> Pauline was very happy with her reconstructed breast and said the scars from surgery were hard to see. She didn’t have the other breast lifted because

Pauline was diagnosed with DCIS in 2001, aged 49, after her first routine mammogram. She had two excisions, followed by a mastectomy and reconstruction using an implant. She also had radiotherapy and took tamoxifen for two years.

• Cancer >> Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS) >> Age at diagnosis: under 50 >> Jacqui - Interview 31 >> Jacqui’s implant had lost its shape after a fall. She was unsure about having more surgery but felt that having a breast improved her self esteem.

Jacqui was diagnosed with DCIS in 1995 after having a mammogram that was part of a clinical trial. She had a mastectomy and, two weeks later, a reconstruction using an implant.

• Cancer >> Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS) >> Age at diagnosis: 50-54 >> Beverley - Interview 15 >> Beverley was petrified the night before surgery and hardly slept. After surgery, she found the first three days uncomfortable and didn’t get much rest

Beverley was diagnosed with DCIS in 2006, aged 50. She had a mastectomy and DIEP flap reconstruction, which she was very happy with.

• Cancer >> Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS) >> Age at diagnosis: 50-54 >> Beverley - Interview 15 >> Beverley said she would recommend a DIEP flap reconstruction to other women. She is happy with her new breast and said an added benefit of the surgery

Beverley was diagnosed with DCIS in 2006, aged 50. She had a mastectomy and DIEP flap reconstruction, which she was very happy with.

• Cancer >> Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS) >> Age at diagnosis: 50-54 >> Hilary - Interview 6 >> Emotionally, having a reconstruction made Hilary feel more alive and passionate. She also sees her femininity in a different way.

Hilary was diagnosed with DCIS in 2001, aged 50. She had a wide local excision, followed by a mastectomy. She also had a delayed DIEP flap reconstruction, followed by breast reduction surgery and nipple reconstruction.

• Cancer >> Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS) >> Age at diagnosis: 55-60 >> Jane - Interview 5 >> Jane advises women with larger breasts to consider whether they would prefer to be a size smaller. She plans to have a breast reduction but wishes she

Jane was diagnosed with DCIS in 2007, aged 58. She had a mastectomy and a DIEP flap breast reconstruction at the same time.

• Cancer >> Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS) >> Age at diagnosis: 50-54 >> Hilary - Interview 6 >> Hilary was pleased with her breast reconstruction but even happier after having nipple reconstruction using her own tissue. The first nipple reconstru

Hilary was diagnosed with DCIS in 2001, aged 50. She had a wide local excision, followed by a mastectomy. She also had a delayed DIEP flap reconstruction, followed by breast reduction surgery and nipple reconstruction.

• Cancer >> Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS) >> Age at diagnosis: 50-54 >> Beverley - Interview 15 >> Both Beverley and her husband were pleased with her breast reconstruction. She can wear low cut tops and will have another nipple reconstruction soon.

Beverley was diagnosed with DCIS in 2006, aged 50. She had a mastectomy and DIEP flap reconstruction, which she was very happy with.

• Cancer >> Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS) >> Age at diagnosis: 50-54 >> Linda - Interview 3 >> At the time of her mastectomy, Linda couldn’t face any more surgery. She said she can’t imagine living without a breast in the long-term and would lik

Linda was diagnosed with DCIS in 2007, aged 53. She had a wide local excision, followed by a mastectomy. She was also prescribed Nolvadex for five years.

• Cancer >> Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS) >> Age at diagnosis: 50-54 >> Gillian - Interview 4 >> Gillian now has to think a bit more about buying bras and what she wears. She has some good prostheses and describes how she looks after them.

Gillian was diagnosed with high-grade DCIS in 2006, aged 50, a year after her first routine mammogram. She had two breast conserving operations and, later, a mastectomy.

• Cancer >> Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS) >> Age at diagnosis: 50-54 >> Linda - Interview 3 >> At first, Linda found wearing a prosthesis hard to accept. She is used to wearing one now but would like to have breast reconstruction.

Linda was diagnosed with DCIS in 2007, aged 53. She had a wide local excision, followed by a mastectomy. She was also prescribed Nolvadex for five years.

• Cancer >> Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS) >> Age at diagnosis: 50-54 >> Pam - Interview 17 >> Pam was very concerned about the tattoo-like marks that would be drawn on her skin before radiotherapy and about her breast shrinking after it, a poss

Pam was diagnosed with DCIS in 2005, aged 53. Her mother had also had DCIS and, because of this, Pam had already heard and read about it. Pam had a wide local excision and radiotherapy, and is taking tamoxifen for five years.