DCIS w/singal mass of micro invasion

Hi and welcome to our fearless club! Your cancer was caught early and that is great news! 

While surgeons certainly see a lot of cancer, it's the oncologists who are the cancer experts. I would make an appt. ASAP to see an oncologist (or two) and get his/her opinion on your pathology report. Bring any biopsy results with you too. 

Do *everything* in your power NOW to determine if you need further treatment. An oncologist is most definitely part of this process.

Good luck and keep us posted!

I definitely think it's worth talking to an oncologist and getting an opinion. Depending on the pathology, you might be able to take tamoxifen or herceptin or some other treatment that would reduce your chance of recurrence.

I don't want to scare you but my original diagnosis was DCIS with 2 microinvasions.  Before my bilateral mx, my BS was calling this "pre-cancer" even with the microinvasions and telling me and my family not to worry about it at all.  She was doing sentinel node biopsies on both sides though, thank goodness, as it turns out I had nodal involvement after all and a rather large tumor, not just microinvasions.  My final dx turned out to be IDC, Stage IIb.  I would definitely go see an oncologist just to be sure.

AJ, I had DCIS with a microinvasion as well and both surgeons I talked to told me that I had no choice but to have an SNB.  One of the surgeons explained that even with an invasion as small as a microinvasion (a true microinvasion is only 1mm in size or smaller), there's about a 10% chance of nodal involvement.  I've read a few studies on this and what I've read seems to confirm this. 

If no nodal involvement is found - I didn't have any - then usually the treatment for DCIS-Mi is the same as the treatment for pure DCIS, and the prognosis is virtually the same.  The only difference in prognosis is a very very small risk of mets, due to the presence of that tiny amount of invasive cancer.  The risk is low enough that usually treatments such as chemo and Herceptin (which are both systemic treatments that are not given to those who have pure DCIS) aren't recommended, assuming that you have only one or two true microinvasions (1mm).  Every treatment comes with side effects and with such a small amount of invasive cancer, the risks from the treatments can sometimes be greater than the risks from the cancer.  

That's what I know based on my situation and what I've read about DCIS-Mi since my diagnosis. As the others have suggested, the best thing for you to do is to talk to an oncologist so that you understand how this tiny amount of invasive cancer affects you.  The oncologist can also advise you on whether or not an SNB would be a good idea for you.  Based on your risk level, he/she might also discuss Tamoxifen, if your cancer is ER+.  Tamoxifen is given to women with DCIS and/or invasive cancer.  It reduces the risk of a local (in breast) recurrence, a distant recurrence (i.e. mets) and provides some risk reduction against a new breast cancer in the future, in either breast.  

My sister had DCIS, lumpectomy and rads and did not see a oncologist !  I thought  she HAD to just to get her own questions answered.  She calls me with questions, but there can be different variables..... an oncologist would be your best source.  If you are not happy, get a second opinion.

Can you ask around friends, co-workers?   one in 8 women had BC.  Are you far from SLOAN-K ?  I know an oncology nurse there

Just don't worry - your cancer is extremely early stage - probably 0.  AND don't drive yourself crazy reading a lot on the Internet 

one more thing.  Lymphodema is not a common side affect when just the Sentinel Nodes are removed.  You just need to take precautions like not getting your blood pressure on that arm.

Oh, i see you have made arrangements with an oncologist with a good recommendation  - GREAT

(edited)

Keeo us posted 

OK - I thought one of your posts said you were +.

Good Luck - stay positive