Do you have palpable lump that is DCIS and not invasive?

I was so worried about this too.  This whole process started by me finding a lump in my left breast.  Had the diagnostic mammo which found microcalcifications.  They didn't see the lump on ultrasound so it was not biopsied.  I thought that was very odd that they didn't bother to biopsy a palpable lump.  Anyway, the lumpectomy was performed and the lump turned out to be fibroadipose tissue measuring 9.5x 7.5 x 1.2 cm.  It had nothing to do with cancer but, had it not been there, who knows how long I would have delayed having a mammo?  I remember feeling conerned too, that so many websites say that DCIS rarely presents as a palpable lump.  In my case, the lump had no DCIS but I guess it was just fortunately in the right area.

I had a palpable lump and no calcifications and it was all DCIS. The area of concern was 1.6 cm, the actual DCIS area,  after lumpectomy, was determined to be .8cm. I found this website helpful in understanding DCIS http://www.dcis.info/biopsy-examination.html

goodluck to you.

Julie E

I had a palpable lump/area.  That's how I found it.  I had just had a mammogram 3 months prior which was a "normal screening mammogram," and had been having regular yearly mammograms for 8 years prior to this.  They told me the lump is often the confined cells within the duct that grow and expand the duct.  I ended up with a 4.5 cm area and it was all DCIS.  

I had a palpable lump and have since had a mastectomy...only DCIS was found.  The not-knowing is the hardest part, soon you will have more information.  I hope it's good news for you ((hugs))

I have a very palpable lump and just got word last night it is 'only' DCIS!  My husband and I were so relieved and happy.  I had a mammo and 4 different people ultrasound the lump and no one could 'find' it.  Everyone could feel it though.  Thankfully my Dr referred my on to a breast specialist who did do a biopsy. 

I also had a "rare" lump with DCIS. This is how it was discovered. It did not show up on diagnostic mammography or initial ultrasound. It took 3 ultrasounds and an MRI to confirm I had something there. (As a matter of fact, after the diagnostic mammogram I was told that the mammo was negative. It would have been left at that except that I thought about it and called a couple of weeks later, questioning how a lump could be there and not have anything show!) Even 3 days prior to surgery, a mammogram could not pick it up. Prior to surgery I also had a core biopsy that showed DCIS, however, the docs were concerned that there could be invasive cells that were just missed on the biopsy. My doctor and I decided to have the lymph node biopsy at the same time as my lumpectomy. All 7 nodes came back negative. The official diagnosis was DCIS with 3 foci of microinvasion. One was at the margin so I had to go in for a resection and had a 1 mm clear margin that time. Underwent radiation. Am now on Tamoxifen. Long story to answer your question about whether DCIS can present as a lump.

peppopat - because you don't know for sure that is is truly 100% DCIS.  There is a chance that there is also IDC mixed in.  I am thrilled for you that your lump shrunk..I've never heard of that happening.  I'm sure you didn't mean to sound condescending to those of us who had surgery......  It is a very hard and very personal choice and one each woman has to makefor herself.  Everyone has a different scenario and they aren't always covered in our little 'diagnosis' box.  Best of luck to you.

i had draining for 1 1/2yrs. from left breast. color clear with slight yellow color on tissue. No lumps felt. Had regular mammograms and sonagram. nothing seen until last month a sonagram showed something and had a needle biopsy. Dr. believed papilloma and had that duct removed.  The biopsy from that biopsy  showed two areas 2.5 mm and 1.5 mm that was non invasive cancer.I will have more tissue , segment, removed. Then if any more cancer found, look at something else.  Till then have an appt with a radiologist at cancer center and may receive tamoxaflen.    If anyone one has drainage , push to investigate. Thank God I have a Dr. who is on the ball.  I almost cancelled the original Dr. appt. because of complacency that mammogram showed nothing.  I wonder how fast do these types of cancers grow and is a delay of two weeks that i requested for personal reasons dangerous to wait.