Please help

I know this is very upsetting. It is good that you are there for your mom.

Tomorrow when you see the doctor, they will explain in more detail what they have found and the treatment they recommend. Ask for a copy of the path report to take with you, and if you do not understand ANYTHING (due to the language barrier or for any other reason) be sure to ask them again until you understand it. There is a lot to absorb in the beginning.

I do not completely understand your question, but usually after the lumpectomy, they will have more information about the tumor and a treatment plan to discuss with you.

 I think some other ladies will be along to give more information, so keep checking this topic.

I wish the best for you and your mom.

Amy

DCIS is ductal cancer (the most common type of breast cancer) in situ (in place - the cancer cells have not moved outside of the milk ducts). It is stage 0 on the tumor scale of 0-4. The final pathology report will tell the grade of the DCIS (if your mother's is described as low grade, that might be a 1 or 2, the size of the tumor, whether the DCIS cells are estrogen receptive and the size of the margins of cancer-free tissue around the DCIS removed by the surgeon will all be considered when your mom and her doctors decide what further treatment is necessary. Sometimes the margins of cancer-free tissue are considered too small - and some more tissue must be removed in a follow-up surgery. This doesn't mean that your mom's breast surgeon did a bad job.

Does your mom live near by you? It is often helpful if someone (a relative or friend).  goes to doctors appointments with the patient - to also hear what the doctor says -

check out postings by BEESIE on the DCIS board - and the reference sections on BCO -there is alot of good info for you.

And yes, sometimes it turns out that there was a micro- invasion, a few cancer cells broke through the duct wall, but that is not common and may not even change the treatment of the DCIS. Let us hope that your mom's DCIS is a small amount, low grade, estrogen positive, with wide margins!!  Best wishes for tomorrow. You have every reason to be hopeful for your mother. 

Julie E