LCIS with new nipple tenderness

Options
Deb_62
Deb_62 Member Posts: 69
edited June 2014 in LCIS (Lobular Carcinoma In Situ)

I was diagnosed with LCIS in left breast May 2008.  Don't know if it's relevant, but the BS did not get clear margins & didn't recommend another surgery.  She asked me to consider a bilateral masectomy instead.  This morning in the shower I noticed that the left nipple was clearly sensitive to the shower water hitting it.  I'd say it hurt.  No discomfort on the right.  Anyone else experienced this?

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • taraleec
    taraleec Member Posts: 236
    edited March 2009

    I'm 39 I was diagnosed in April '08 with LCIS, complex sclerosing lesion(radial scar) intraductal hyperplasia & sclerosing adenosis, in the left breast.  I had a lumpectomy in late March '08.  But I was told I was at 40% risk of it becoming invasive cancer, I was recommended to have radiation and take Tamoxifen. I wanted to have another child, so I did not take Tamoxifen. But I had radiation(so I don't know if that matters), my nipple is very sensitive, still.  Good luck to you.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • leaf
    leaf Member Posts: 8,188
    edited February 2009

    Dirty margins for LCIS are common, but they really don't matter either.

    They used to routinely do bilateral prophylactic mastectomies for LCIS and nothing worse (before the, say, early 1990s.)  They know that often LCIS is multifocal (occurs in many spots in the breast) and often bilateral (occurs in both breasts).  But it doesn't really matter clinically because they know even if you have LCIS in one spot in one breast, it puts BOTH breasts at risk. This is for LCIS and nothing worse.

    They don't understand the natural history of LCIS.  Its a weird disease.  Often times, they find LCIS in a place that is not AT, but is NEXT TO the original 'suspicious lesion'. They now think that in a SMALL number of cases, LCIS MAY become a precursor for cancer.  LCIS is NOT destined to become cancer, but in a SMALL (no one will define small) number of cases, it may become cancer.

    I see you have had DCIS too, so that may complicate your situation.    Did you get your LCIS excised?  Often they recommend the LCIS site to be excised, because in about ?10-30% of cases, when they find LCIS in a biopsy, they can find something worse on excision in the area. But they don't have to have clean margins.  Even if they wanted to take out all the LCIS, they would have a hard time doing that without doing a mastectomy, because LCIS normally does not show up on clinical exam, mammogram, ultrasound, and (I think) MRI, so they wouldn't know what to excise.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited February 2009

    Deb--I agree with Leaf, clear margins are not an issue with LCIS. I'm assuming they did get clear margins with your DCIS back in 2006? Was the DCIS treated with radiation or tamoxifen? Having both does complicate matters somewhat----you need to talk with your doctor and ask about how this affects your overall risk level and decision making.

    Anne

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • PSK07
    PSK07 Member Posts: 781
    edited February 2009

    Deb-

    I had DCIS in 2007 - treated with lumpectomy and radiation and then LCIS and ALH dx in 2008 in the opposite breast - treated with a lumpectomy (there was a lesion that could be removed).  I started tamoxifen last month & will have alternating MRIs and mammograms every 6 months for the foreseeable future.

    There are differing opinions on mastectomy vs watching and waiting with LCIS.  Here is a link to a publication that has some stats and info on LCIS and excisions and other treatments. (starts on pg 6)

    http://www.asbd.org/images/asbd_advisor_issue2_2007.pdf

    Anyway - the pain. Could it be related to your monthly cycle?  That said, I'm of the wussy-worrier persuasion that after cancer any unusual pain that doesn't go away in a couple of days or isn't helped by Advil is a free pass for a call to the doctor.

    hope you get an answer.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Deb_62
    Deb_62 Member Posts: 69
    edited February 2009

    Thanks for the info!  Guess I'm being such a worry wart because I finally decided to get the bilateral that the BS recommended last summer.  I've been on Tamoxifen since September and was doing the same alternating mammograms & MRI's. 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories