Newly diagnosed with DCIS

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dol123
dol123 Member Posts: 2
edited June 2014 in DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ)

Dilemma . . . . .  I have been newly diagnosed with low grade DCIS. Symptoms of bleeding nipple led to mammogram and U/S scan. This was followed by excision of ducts. Histology results show DCIS and it involves the margins of the excision. I have been given the option of "do nothing v further excision". I am confused as I have read many posts on here and it looks like most women are treated actively. How safe would I be to "do nothing" as the DCIS is low grade? I'm not sure what to do and am very confused. Rather than scour all the different threads I have started a new one which is very selfish but thought it would alleviate my initial feelings of panic. Thanks in anticipation.

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  • redsox
    redsox Member Posts: 523
    edited November 2009

    At the least you should have a re-excision to get clear margins and be sure that it is all low grade DCIS.  "Do nothing" should not be an option at this point.

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  • baywatcher
    baywatcher Member Posts: 532
    edited November 2009

    I would watch and wait.

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  • dol123
    dol123 Member Posts: 2
    edited November 2009

    Thanks for the replies so far. However, I guess I still don't know what to do. I have an appointment on 2nd Dec so I have got time to think about it. Thank you anyway. By the way my mother had mastectomy aged 50 years, still alive and well at age 69 years. I think I have family history to consider in all this.

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  • CatbirdC
    CatbirdC Member Posts: 299
    edited November 2009

    I would get a second opinion.

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  • desdemona222b
    desdemona222b Member Posts: 776
    edited November 2009

    I'd get that re-excision done so you'll have the peace of mind knowing they got good margins.

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  • Jelson
    Jelson Member Posts: 1,535
    edited November 2009

    Low grade DCIS is one thing - radiation is not always recommended after an excisional biopsy, however, I would think that lack of clean margins is something else. Do you know if  you are ER/PR + and if so, was tamoxifen recommended? There is  movement in the medical community to ratchet down the aggressiveness of treatment for DCIS and maybe your doctor is of that mindset. 

    I also encourage you to get a second opinion. 

    And no need to apologize for starting a new thread!

    Julie E

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  • debintn749
    debintn749 Member Posts: 99
    edited November 2009

    I had a lumpectomy first, and when the margins didnt come back clear , my dr gave me the option to either do another lumpectomy or mastectomy and I chose mastectomy. Do nothing would not be an option for me. I wanted it gone. And my mother also had it and died if it. I would get rid of the dcis rather than let it sit there and continue to grow.

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  • Janets1
    Janets1 Member Posts: 57
    edited November 2009

    Re-excision much easier and quicker than original surgery. My surgeon told me that a recent study out of Sloan-Kettering stated that 40% of women must undergo re-excisions for clear margins. So really no reason not to do it - and with low-grade DCIS and clear margins you will be in good shape.

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