LCIS

magoo63

I was recently diagnosed with LCIS. The core biopsy I had also showed carcinoma in situ with higher nuclear grade involving mucinous spherulosis. An excision was recommended, which was on May 7th. The pathology report from the excision showed LCIS only. The breast surgeon said they did not find any more higher nuclear grade cells. My concern is that the cells on the core biopsy were pleomorphic and the excision biopsy showed classic LCIS. I am worried that there maybe more higher grade cells and from what I read can be hard to detect on mammograms and MRI  However, she would like me to see an oncologist about going on Tamoxifen. I was diagnosed with ADH in 2006 and I have a strong family history. Both my mother and sister had DCIS. I am worried that I am on a path to a future cancer and may want to consider bilateral mastectomy. Has anyone else had this type of biopsy results.

 

marketingmama

I was diagnosed with LCIS about 6 months ago. Total accident (the diagnosis) as I was having a breast reduction and lift and they always send the tissue to pathology. I have no family history. Total fluke and a huge shock. But there was no rush, I had plenty of time to make a decision. Saw two surgeons. Had my path reviewed twice, had and MRI (clear) and was given lot of info on tamoxifen. Was also told that my lifetime risk was 40%. Too high for me. I ultimately opted for a nipple sparing bilateral mastectomy and i'm recovering from it now. I simply knew that i wouldn't do well worrying about test results every six months. I also didn't want to take tamoxifen. For me and my husband, removing the risk was the best choice. But plenty of ladies do fine with watchful waiting and/or tamox. The decision is deeply personal. Suggest you spend time on the LCIS board.Those ladies have a wealth of info and are a great source of support.

All the best.

caligirl3

I was diagnosed with pleomorphic LCIS in April of 2014. I had lx, MRI, mammo. They did not get clear margins so I had to decide between going back and trying to achieve clear margins or a bilateral mastectomy. Its important to note that with classic LCIS they do not consider it necessary to achieve clear margins but since mine was pleomorphic it was recommended. I was given a 60% lifetime risk. Just like marketingmama, I felt that was way too high so opted for the mastectomy. I am very glad I did because after my surgery I was found to have a 1.5cm tumor in a bed of 9cm pleomorphic LCIS. I had just received a clear mammogram 2 months prior to surgery. I am not trying to frighten you, I just want to share my experience because ironically the main reason I opted for the mastectomy was so I wouldn't have to take Tamoxifen. After the upgrade in diagnosis I am now on Tamoxifen. I have been on it for 6 months and its not as bad as I thought it would be. It has its challenges but doable. At times I wish I had tried the Tamoxifen in the 6 months between finding the LCIS and my surgery. Would it have made a difference I will never know. Just like marketingmama said above, there are many who have opted for surveillance and tamoxifen and have done very well. You need to do what is right for you. Also I want to stress again that in my case it was pleomorphic LCIS not classic LCIS. You don't have to rush into a decision. Take your time and follow your instincts.

Abutterfly

hi,

On Aug. 6 I had the mammogram revealing questionable micro calcification. The biopsy on the 10th came back LCIS. Today, almost a month later...I had an MRI Guided biopsy. This was worse by far than the mammogram guided one last month. My concern is that the biopsy was very deep. The same area that I have chronic discomfort, but did not think it was breast. Always thought it was chest pain. Also, Both surgeons I consulted with said LCIS is not cancer. My health history is extensive and my mother is a breast cancer survivor. Thoughts

614

LCIS is scary because it is so hard to detect. 

I have pleomorphic LCIS and pleomorphic ILC.  They also found invasive tubular carcinoma which is not that big of a deal.  The pleomorphic LCIS and pleomorhic ILC is terryifying.

I had a double lumpectomy.  The PLCIS and the ITC was not detected in my biopsy of one of my lumps.  I was told that lump was benign.   It was actually malignant.  However, I knew that the other lump was malignant.

I had a double lumpectomy, radiation, and an oophorectomy after taking zoladex to medically induce me into menopause so that I could take Arimidex/Anastrazole - an Aromatase Inhibitor.  I was not able to take tamoxifen.

I am on the 6 month surveillance protocol.  It is stressful. I was diagnosed in the summer of 2014 and 2 suspicious areas were found on my 6 monnth MRI.  I had an MRI guided biopsy of one of the areas and now I have a hematoma that may never go away.  Luckily the lump was benign.  The other suspicious area could not be biopsied because it was a 1.5cm linear non-mass enhancement with rapid washin washout kindetics and it must be watched for 6 months.  I will find out more in November 2015 when I go back for my follow up tests 6 months after my MRI. 

It is certainly anxiety provoking to wonder and to not know.

However, I love my doctors so I am confident that they know what they are doing and that they will take care of me.  As far as I know, I am healthy today as far as bc goes.  (I am stating it that way because I have bronchitis and a sinus infection.) 

I feel truly lucky that I was actually diagnosed early because lobular carcinoma is so hard to detect.  Having a biopsy come back negative and then to find out that it is actually malignant is scary.  Actually, both of my tumors were biopsied twice and I was told that both were benign the first time.  One tumor was benign twice.  They both ended up being malignant in the end.  Weird.  However, nothing is normal when it comes to cancer. 

I actually believe that my cancer was discovered because my lump that was previously biopsied changed in size and that actually saved my life.  My bs told me that the malignancy grew in the benign tumor.

Good luck to everyone and I hope that you make the right decisions for you.

Crescent5

My story is very similar to caligirl's. I was certainly ready to go the surveillance route, until pleomorphic lcis was found. Then it was a no brainer for me (not for everyone but it was definitely my line in the sand). I had PBM and 2 tiny ILC tumors were found in the pathology. Damn smart decision on my part. My risk of recurrence is something ridiculously small like 5%. I can live with that.

Everyone has their own choice to make. And sometimes you think you'll do one thing, but really, you do something else. Your gut will tell you. Just trust it