Reoccurrence stage 0

Confusednj

it's 2 years after my lumpectomy and radiation and I have been diagnosed with stage 0 in same breast. 1st time was stage 1. My dr is recommending a masectomy since the breast cannot be radiated again. This seems a bit drastic to me for stage 0 but maybe I an missing something. Anyone have same situation ?

Icietla

Hi Confusednj, and welcome to BCO. I am so sorry you have this trouble again.

We are in the Alternative Medicine section here. It seems you are looking for guidance as to Conventional Medicine. Please start a New Topic thread in the Recurrence discussions section linked here.

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/106

GoofyFoot

Hi Confusednj,

I believe you posted in the Alternative Medicine section intentionally, because you want to know of others who have recurred with Stage 0 and are opting out of conventional treatment.

You did not update your profile to indicate the grade of your Stage 1 or Stage 0 cancer, or if they had the same pathology (e.g. Grade 3 with comedo necrosis, ER-/PR-, size of area, same region of breast as prior cancer) which would help people relate more to what you are facing.

I am having another stereotactic biopsy this week after having a lumpectomy 11 months ago and completing radiation 8 months ago for Stage 0 Grade 3 with comedo necrosis, ER-/PR. My new microcalcs grew in just the last 5 months. I know that conventional treatment is always a mastectomy in this situation, if it has recurred. My area is tiny, the last area was tiny - 7mm. Personally, I wanted to find out if anyone just has another lumpectomy, and does a wait-and-see, but I have yet to find any studies, data, opinions on that. I believe that there is a not a scientific community that is studying what happens when women choose not to remove the breast in this situation, when it is high grade, because you cannot get women (or doctors) to agree to participate in such a study.

I realize that my (and possibly your) cancer would be very aggressive/fast-growing to have returned so quickly in spite of removing the known area, and radiating the entire breast, including the area with new growth. The odds of it becoming invasive are very high. If the grade of my (or your) cancer was 1 or 2, I would think about looking at other options, and I hope the others on this alternative medicine forum might provide you with alternatives which have helped them.

Good luck in your decision, I understand your frustration.

Fallleaves

Confusednj, that does seem pretty drastic to recommend mastectomy for stage 0, even if you've had previous cancer. Any possibility of getting a second opinion?

barbe1958

I know of more DCIS ladies getting mastectomies than any other stage since I've been on bco.org. A mastectomy is normal for DICS as it can be spread well into the ducts and not show up again until it's developed further.

Fallleaves

I think there are some concerns that DCIS is being overtreated; that mastectomies don't increase survival, but have added harms over lumpectomies.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/21/health/breast-ca...

barbe1958

The problem is, once your breast has made cancer once it's a no-brainer that it's going to occur again. Also DCIS can break through the ducts and become IDC very, very easily so who knows if theirs has already done that and it's just too small to pick up on a scan?

april485

If you have already had radiation then it is not an option if a second cancer is found. This is generally why a second BC in the same breast calls for a MX and not a lumpectomy. DCIS is the least known about BC. The medical world is divided on this issue. Some say we over-treat, others say it is foolish not to treat aggressively because this type can be cured vs. other types.

It is a malignancy. It just has not broken out of the duct but many doctors feel that this is the way most IDC begins. They just don't know. Honestly, a lazy grade 1 vs. a grade 3 with comedo necrosis are two different animals and one should be treated more aggressively than the other but it is all up to you and how you feel about this. It is always YOUR choice and no one else's.

Best to you moving forward whatever you decide.

Confusednj

thank you everyone for your support. I have spoken with several doctors and all are consistent with the opinion of a mastectomy. I am going for another opinion tomorrow. It is very scary but if that is my best chance of survival, I guess I will go that route.