Intermediate grade DCIS - micro invasion

Maureen-wakeman23a

Hi, I am Maureen it is my first time of starting to use the Forum, so here goes. Following my recent operation from a right needle wide local excision, I am now confronted with a decision to have a sentinel node biopsy or go straight into a programme of radiotherapy. With the side effects from having surgery in the axilla which is on my prominent side, do I put myself through another operation to confirm if there is invasive cancer in the sentinel nodes? if I don't go through with this operation will I always be thinking and totallyunaware that this has spread, or will the radiotherapy kill the cancer cells remaining?

I find this next step very concerning and hopefully someone will share with me some information and reassurance that I am looking for. Thank you.

Annette47

What are your doctors recommending?

I knew going into my lumpectomy that I had a micro-invasion, so a sentinel node biopsy was done at the same time ... it wasn’t presented as optional and I didn’t ask about not doing it - was still in too much shock I think. My surgeon did say that the chance of invasive cancer in the nodes was reputed to be 10% with a micro invasion, but in her experience, it was probably less than 5%.

I did have some minor complications (lymphatic cording) following the surgery, but those went away after 6 weeks or so, and I have not had any problems since. While lymphedema is always a possibility with any node removal, and even just with surgery alone, the risks really aren’t all that big with a SNB. Personally, while as I said it wasn’t framed as a decision at the time, looking back I think I would have felt the small risks from the SNB were worth the peace of mind of knowing that the cancer hadn’t spread. Plus, while the odds of significant nodal involvement with a micro invasion are very, very small, it could happen and if it did might warrant a systemic treatment such as chemo instead of just a local treatment such as radiation - probably better to know.