DCIS - cancer or Pre-cancer?

Hi janniexy, I don't mean to correct you. I was just a little surprised in reading your post. Pure  DCIS is NOT life threatening and ALWAYS non-invasive. It biologically does NOT know how to metasticize. Pre-cancer/cancer may be just semantics between docs- whatever, but there is not a doctor on earth that should be confused about the DX. The only way a DCIS cell becomes invasive is for the cell to undergo a change in the structure. It not like the DCIS cells fill up a duct and eventually explode. That's why some DCIS cells undergo a change and become invasive, and others never change. Calling it a pre-cancer is not just one isolated opinion. About half disagree on the semantics of it. It does not really matter. I think we can call it what we want. Either definition can work. But, they ALL agree that DCIS without a micro-invasion is not life threatening and ALWAYS non-invasive.

That's what my Doc said......You have Cancer.....the good kind. Pre-invasive, they know it leads to invasive, just not exactly which ones will.........yet.

This whole thing about DCIS not  being cancer is bull. Sorry but it ticks me off. Yes, it is cancer, just not invasive yet. The next time a Dr tells one of us it is not cancer, I would suggest to them to have some of our  'non-cancer cells' injected into his/her breast tissue to see what happens. I'm sure they wouldn't be willing to try that experiment.  Hmmmm, I wonder????

Wow, I am really confused about DCIS.  I received a phone call from my oncologist who had my patholgy slides re-read.  I already knew from the original path report that I was diagnosed with ADH.  The new report came back saying ADH and also Borderline DCIS, low grade.  I was told my treatment would stay the same, they are treated the same, tamoxifen for the next 5 years, and switching between mammograms and MRI's every 6 months.  I had said DCIS was breast cancer from reading about it and he said no, it is the pre-curser to breast cancer. Now I realize that I am only borderline, but this is so confusing!

Need to chime in here.  The ACS says that DCIS is non-invasive cancer, pre-cancer.

Here is the link - look for breast cancer general terms and then for carcinoma in situ

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_1X_What_is_breast_cancer_5.asp?sitearea=

Gentle Hugs,

Trish

Beth1128....I did not need radiation, probably because it was borderline DCIS and such a small amount.  I have started Tamoxifen, a week ago , for the next five years. My first MRI is scheduled for Feb. and then I will be alternating every 6 months with mammograms.  When I first met with the Dr., she was going by my first path report and spent the time giving me information all about how I am at High Risk because of my age, have ADH, dense breasts, that I should go on Tamoxifen and so on. I left understanding what was wrong with me and knowing what I needed to do.   I received a call a week ago with results to the path report being re-read and how it is still ADH, but, Borderline DCIS.  Because it was a phone call I was not prepared to ask questions, all I know is that the treatment plan is the same as discussed for the ADH and follow up in Dec.  I do have to call back,  I forgot to ask for a copy of my new report.  Hope all goes well with you too!

I'd really like to know why I have no breasts if I didn't have cancer!

i to had DCIS and my doctor described it as breast cancer but with no lymph nodes removed and now i question that as they have found a lymph node on my ct scan that is suspicious. Hang in there and know you are loved. Sending you a hug.

Keta

I have the same question ... I just started looking up what my path report means and found cancer sites saying DCIS is "pre cancer" ??? so what the??? i just had mastectomy... for pre cancer or cancer...they told me it was cancer...i am so confused by some of this and very annoyed at this point...why do some cancer sites say it is not cancer but could be....I have read your responses but when u research the cancer sites it says  "pre cancer" .  

My goodness this is an old thread!  2008!

Angi, whether DCIS is considered to be cancer or pre-cancer simply depends on how one defines cancer. The definition of cancer often includes 3 criteria (from the National Cancer Institute: What Is Cancer?):

1) Abnormality of the cells

2) Uncontrolled growth of the cells

3) Invasiveness/the ability to metastasize

DCIS cells meet the first two criteria, but not the third.  This is why some doctors consider DCIS to be a pre-cancer. Often it's oncologists who take this position, and that actually makes some sense when you consider that most of their patients have invasive cancer and face the risk of metastasis and death, and their job is to work with the patient to keep that from happening. With DCIS patients, oncologists only have to be concerned about local (i.e. in the breast area) recurrences so it's not surprising that many classify DCIS as a pre-cancer. 

Whether a doctor considers DCIS to be cancer or pre-cancer, the treatment recommendations are usually the same.  First and foremost, it's usually recommended that the DCIS be removed, either with a lumpectomy, or if the DCIS is too widespread (as it was in my case), with a mastectomy. Surgical removal is recommended because DCIS can over time develop to become invasive cancer. So removal of DCIS while it's still DCIS is a way to avoid a diagnosis of IDC. 

Angi, your signature line indicates that you had IDC, not DCIS.  I realize that most women who have IDC also have some DCIS, but because IDC is the more serious condition, the diagnosis, staging and treatment plan is all based on the IDC. While there may be a debate within the medical community on what to call DCIS (pre-cancer, cancer, pre-invasive cancer....), there's no debate that IDC is cancer.  When DCIS and IDC are found together, the DCIS has to be removed (and sometimes that might mean that the patient needs to have a mastectomy), but other than that, whatever is done to treat the IDC will be more than sufficient to treat the DCIS. So after the surgical removal, the presence of the DCIS can pretty much be ignored and the treatment plan can focus on the IDC. 

So well said, Bessie and Ariom!!!

When I share my experience, I tell people I have stage 0 breast cancer.  When I'm in a situation where there is more interest, I will say it is non-invasive, the kind of breast cancer you want, if you're going to get it. If I want to get fancy, I'll throw out DCIS.  I explain that it is an unknown whether it will become invasive which is why it is treated like more advanced breast cancer.  I think it's important to think in terms of educating folks...

I'm with you, Axiom!  I like this new-normal.  This has been a growing experience.  And for that reason, I am grateful! xo Lisa