DCIS or IDC? Help!

Formymom78

Hi everyone, my mom recenctly had an MRI to prepare for her surgery next Wednesday (bil mast w/ expanders & removal of lymph nodes). Her original "prognosis?" was DCIS; however, after the MRI her team of surgeons found a tumor growing outside of the duct that had the cancer. Sorry if this is layman's terms but she does not remember (and neither does my dad) if the doctor told her her breast cancer was now considered invasive. When I called her today she mentioned that she has not heard back from her doctor and she was very stressed. I hate seeing her confused and want to answer all her questions so she feels like she is aware of what is going on. Thanks for your feedback! This site is amazing and has been so helpful! (Any tips on what I can do to give her comfort AFTER her procedure next Wednesday would also be greatly appreciated)

idaho

I had DCIS and IDC in the same breast- had a double lumpectomy- and radiation and am doing fine now-  just wanted you to know that it is doable and your mom will be fine. I agree the Hope- nothing is for sure until they get the final path report.   Peace to you, Tami

Kate2z80

I would ask you mother to sign an authorization permitting her doctors to discuss her care with you.  HIPPA prevents the doctors from talking to you otherwise.  That way, you can call the doctor with questions as they arise or to verify that your parents have conveyed (or comprehended) the information accurately.

Beesie

It sounds to me as though DCIS was found in your mother's needle biopsy.  Any needle biopsy provides a preliminary diagnosis only.  It's always possible that something additional or different may be found when all of the suspicious breast tissue is removed and examined.  So no diagnosis is final until after the final surgery.  In your mother's case, it appears that based on the MRI, her doctors suspect that there may be invasive cancer in addition to the DCIS.  Having DCIS and invasive cancer together is not unusual.  But as hopefor30 said, there is no way to know if the cancer is invasive just from looking at the MRI.  The only way to make any diagnosis is by looking at the breast tissue under a microscope.  So until the next surgery is done, there is no way to know if your mother has DCIS or if she has IDC. 

Best wishes to you mother for an easy surgery, quick recovery and a favorable pathology!