Is it possible have DCIS in both breasts?

Dawn, from what I've read, about 3% of women diagnosed with breast cancer turn out to have BC in both breasts at the same time.  When this happens, the two diagnoses are unconnected.  Each breast might have a different type of cancer, possibly with different hormone status, etc..  So it's possible and no doubt there will be women who come by who tell you that this happened to them.

What's more likely however is that this will turn out to be a false positive. After a diagnosis of BC, our doctors tend to be especially careful at checking our breasts, wanting to find anything that might be wrong prior to surgery.  So many of us are put through extra tests like MRIs and as a result, lots of us have had false positives.  MRIs in particular are notorious for showing things that turn out not to be cancer.  In my case, it wasn't my MRI that turned up something, but my mammo. After the calcs in my right breast were determined to be DCIS, a relook at my mammo uncovered calcs in my left breast.  First step was a diagnostic mammo, which simply raised the level of concern so then I was sent off for a biopsy.  It turns out that these calcs were benign and totally harmless.  And my situation isn't unusual at all - I've seen it happen to lots of women who've come through this board.

So try not to jump the gun on this.  The fact that you've been diagnosed with BC in one breast doesn't make it any more likely that something that's discovered in your other breast will also be BC.  Anything is possible but the odds are definitely in your favor that this will turn out to be a false alarm.

Hi I am one of those women that Beesie is talking about. I had two separate IDC's, one in each breast.  They were similar but different enough to be sure that they were two separate primaries.  It is fairly rare but it does happen.  Nothing to freak out about though.  I know that is easier said then done but once you get over the initial OMG it is EVERYWHERE! panic attack it becomes clear that IF it is DCIS in each breast the treatment decisions and outcome will not change.  My larger tumor was a IIa and the smaller a Stage 1.  They treat based on the larger or more aggressive whichever requires more treatment. It doesn't change treatment outcome in most cases. For me, it just cemented the fact that I was having a BMX.  Chemo was already a given.  Like Beesie also said it is fairly uncommon and is most likely a fibroid or some other B9 item.  I did not know that I had anything at all in my left breast until the MRI found it.  It was a small little sucker.  I had felt the lump in my right breast.  The MRI also found a fibroid so they are very precise imaging machines and frequently find things that are not at all dangerous.  Just wanted to pop by and tell you that IF it turns out that you have DCIS in both breasts do not freak out, the treatment will not change and your body is not spinning out of control.  BC rarely, if ever, "spreads" from one breast to the other so for those that end up having BC in both breasts normally have unrelated cancers.  Both of breasts had decided to get cancer without discussing it with the other..lol.    Best of luck through this and my most powerful B9 prayers are coming your way. 

momof3sofar, a mammogram picked up the DCIS in my left breast.  After being scheduled for a masectomy only on the left side, my surgeon requested an MRI of both breasts.  The MRI showed a suspicious spot on the right and after a biopsy, confirmed it was DCIS grade 3, same as the left.  There was absoultely no sign of cancer on the mammogram for my right.  The MRI picks things up differently.  In the end, I'm glad it was found before my masectomomy so I didn't have to relive the cancer all over again years down the line after the cells had multiplied enough to be seen on mammography.  Hang in there, like everyone said, they are usually false positive.  All the best and sending you many hugs.