Sizing, staging of DCIS

Emaline

Does size of the area of DCIS found ever matter with staging of DCIS? 

redsox

As long as it is all DCIS the Stage is always 0 and there are no staging subcategories by size, but greater size of lesion is a factor that is associated with higher recurrence risk.  The explanation usually given is that with a larger area of DCIS there is a greater chance of 1) an undiscovered invasive component or 2) some DCIS cells having been left behind.  The more thorough the pathological assessment of the removed tissue, the better for avoiding 1).  The wider the margins, the better for avoiding 2).  Either is still possible.

mom3band1g

The more DCIS the harder to get good margins especially in relation to the size of your breast.  redsox gave a good answer!  As another 6+ cm gal I can tell you I needed rads even after my mast but I had very small breasts.

kathyob

I was worried about this too, thank you for asking. I had 5 cm, and had a lumpectomy and radiation. I was worried because the the extent was more than they originally thought. I just went for my 3 month check up with the surgeon, and won't see him for another 6 mos. Is that the schedule you all are on? I won't have a mammogram until that time, which would be a year from the time I was diagnosed. Thanks!!

Tildymom

So the smaller the size, is that a better chance that it might not be DCIS?  OR doesn't matter that it's only 2cm?

juliet62

my dcis was 1.8cm!   had lumpectomy and now radiation

Anonymous

DCIS is always stage 0.  The grade is what refers to the size with grade 3 being the largest.  Please read the thread called "DCIS facts and misconceptions".  There is a lot of great information spelled out there.

http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/68/topic/770422 

Tildymom

Thanks Kate33!!  I will check out the site!

IronJawedBCAngel

Grade is not just to do with size, it is more to do with type of cancer cell and aggression of that cell.  My DCIS was only two foci of .38 and .48. but was Grade 3 due to comedo cells with necrosis.  Another site for great information is dcis.info.

Anonymous

IronJawed- Thanks for correcting me.  That's what I get for trying to post at 1:30 in the morning!  LOL!  I meant to write the size can affect the grade because the higher the grade the quicker the cells are growing.  Here is some great info on DCIS right here on BCO-

http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/types/dcis/diagnosis.jsp