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writer
writer Member Posts: 208
edited June 2014 in DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ)

Hi all,

I'm sorry to say that I've just joined your club, and maybe even another club (IDC), although you do seem like a lovely and smart and supportive bunch, so if that's the club I'm in, things could be worse.

 I'm still in the don't-know-nearly-enough stage. Caught in mammogram, biopsy of left breast last week, MRI Thursday, meeting the BC surgeon Friday, expected second biopsy soon. 51 years old, had some calcification since first mammo at 41.

First phone call from radiologist just said DCIS, and I was too ignorant to know a damn thing to ask. Did my homework, learned about DCIS, and gradually calmed down and mentally prepared for lumpectomy and radiation. I do remember her saying my lymph nodes were clear, but I don't understand how they could know that from a needle-core biopsy?

Then last night my internist called and sent me the biopsy report. It says Ductal Carcinoma In Situ, grade 3, solid type with comedo necrosis and intraluminal microcalcifications, present at biopsy margins.

PLUS "highly suspiciious for invasive ductal carcinoma."

I know enough to know that this is a lot scarier than cribiform DCIS alone.

Has anyone had both? If IDC is small and caught early, do you think I might be spared chemo? I'm wrapping my brain around mastectomy but obviously pretty freaked out. How would they know it's not in my lymph nodes this early?

 Obviously I'll learn a lot after the MRI and meeting with the surgeon. Just happy to have found you all and hoping for a little input. Not knowing enough is torture.

thank you 

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  • sunnyhou
    sunnyhou Member Posts: 169
    edited November 2009

    WOW.. well.. relax.. my mom had 4 cm of DCIS with a 1 cm of IDC.. no chemo, she did lumpectomy and radiation.. It has been 13 years and had not come back.. sounds as if it is IDC it is small.. otherwise there would be no suspicion but confirmation.. at my mom's mammo they could see the idc.. of course I am a lay man so your Dr will know more.. but sounds like it was caught early.. I think the standard is less than 1cm IDC no chemo, but there might be a little more to the story depending on the hormone status and if the invasion is triple negative.. hopefully someone will come on here that is more knowledgable than me..this board can be kind of slow..

    ask lots of questions.. write them down so you will not forget

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  • Lovegolf
    Lovegolf Member Posts: 513
    edited November 2009

    Breathe   and get all the information you can...then get a plan. Talk to folks here and anyone else you know.  Decide what is best for you, what you feel comfortable with....there will be choices.  Once you have "fight plan"  fight.  You will be stronger than you ever knew. If you have any questions you can PM me.  When you get down to surgery etc there are lots of old post on here that have suggestion for the dayto day stuff.

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  • pk0199
    pk0199 Member Posts: 586
    edited November 2009

    Very well said Lovegolf, the only thing I would like to add is take one day at a time. We are all here for you if you need us.

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