DCIS and IDC TN

After neoadjuvant chemo, my original tumor (IDC) had melted away completely, but a DCIS had sprouted nearby (like a weed, my surgeon said). The DCIS turned out to be TN as well, but it was not a given that it would be. My onc said that if it were ER/PR+ I would benefit from Tamoxifen despite the other tumor being TN. Turns out that wasn't the case for me after all, but I'm two years out from DX and doing great! I hope this helps.

Cherie 

newalex, I was DX with DCIS in my left breast, and IDC TN in my right breast at the same time.  I had also been DX with LCIS about six years earlier in my right breast and had opted for twice yearly screening instead of bi-lat mast. I do have some regrets about not having done this earlier, but you can't look back, only forward.  From what I understand, having DCIS along with, or together with IDC is not that uncommon. My surgeon called my DCIS "baby cancer" and said the TN lesion was what needed the treatment,  I did opt to have bi-lats done this last fall due to my numerous pre-cancerous conditions, including atypical hyperplasia. I figured I wouldn't wait around for anymore cancer in the breasts after the double whammy.  I don't know if this helps, but we duel cancer women are certainly out there!

Hi newalex-

I had neoadjuvant chemo and then a lumpectomy and radiation, not a mastectomy. The DCIS was found when when they did the lumpectomy. I don't know if it was there all along or not. My onc said the DCIS wouldn't have responded to the chemo anyway. Since the main tumor disappeared, he still considers that I had PCR.

Since I am TN and did not have a mastectomy, I haven't done much research about the benefits of Tamoxifen after mastecomy. Your post made me curious, however. Here's a doctor's response to the question I found on Medhelp.org:

"Much of the research done on tamoxifen in DCIS has been done on women who have had lumpectomy + radiation therapy.  The addition of tamoxifen reduced the incidence of non-invasive and invasive recurrences, second cancers in the opposite breast, and metastasis.  Given the reduction of second cancers in the opposite breast and metastasis, it would seem valid to consider the addition of tamoxifen after mastectomy for DCIS."

Hope this is helpful!