DCIS under Chemotherapy.

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karreen
karreen Member Posts: 11
edited June 2014 in Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment

hi everyone! im 24 yrs/old, diagnosed with DCIS . im currently under chemotherapy (WITH doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide and docetaxel) on my way to my 4th cycle on the 7th of june. ive been researching about my condition and found out that chemotherapy is not necessary for my condition. im getting all confused now,thinking that i may have been overtreated. im planning to have my treatment stopped after the 4th. am i doing the right decision? anyone who is familiar or  has similar diagnosis as mine, please help me.. 

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  • J9W
    J9W Member Posts: 395
    edited June 2011

    Karreen,  it's unusual for chemo with DCIS. Can you share with us your dx?  Might there be something more than DCIS>

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  • judyfams
    judyfams Member Posts: 148
    edited June 2011

    Karreen,

    You have not told us much about the details of your diagnosis.  Is this neo-adjuvant chemo (before surgery - to shrink tumor) or adjuvant chemo (after surgery)?

    Did your doctor explain why he put you on chemo and why that particular chemo combo?  If you already had surgery did the surgeon do an oncotype test and if so what were those results?

    Is there a family history and did the surgeon recommend BRACA testing?

    We need to know more about your dx and if you cannot answer these questions, then you need to speak to the doctor and get all the nswers to these questions.

    Judy

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  • karreen
    karreen Member Posts: 11
    edited June 2011

    J9W, thanks for the immediate response. i was able to locate a lump in my right breast (feb.13) and had it removed immediately on feb 18. .on my march 1, biopsy result came out with final pathological diagnosis of DCIS, comedosubtype with necrosis. other details are that, ER-,PR-, hER2+, tumor size 3.5 cm, High grade malignant cells. i was suggested to have a mastectomy and so i did,just three days after the biopsy result came out. my right breast that was removed was again put under biopsy and the final pahologic report stated:;

    NO RESIDUAL TUMOR, FIBROCYSTIC DISEASE

    EOSINOPHILIC MASTISTIS

    NEGATIVE FOR TUMOR, MARGINS OF EXCISION AND NIPPLE AND AREOLAR COMPLEX

    FOLLICULAR HYPEREPLASIA, LYMPH NODES

    Microsections disclose no residual malignancy.

    i was advised that chemotherapy is done to "make sure" that there will be lower risk of recurrence.. what do you think? 

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  • karreen
    karreen Member Posts: 11
    edited June 2011

    ms. judy, had my details posted.. thank you..

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  • dlb823
    dlb823 Member Posts: 9,430
    edited June 2011

    Karreen, I want to suggest that you repost your question in the DCIS Forum, as there are some experts who post there who may not see your question here (although it's a logical place to put it). Click on Forum Index above, then scroll down until you see the DCIS Forum.  

    I'm not a doctor, but on first glance, the fact that your DCIS was 3cm, Grade 3 and hormone negative, plus your very young age, were probably influencing factors in your onc RXing chemo for you.

    One thing I can suggest if you have questions or doubts, is to get a 2nd opinion.  Even though you're well into chemo, it might be a very sensible thing to do to ease your mind going forward either way.  

    Take care, good luck, and let us know what you find out ~  Deanna 

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  • karreen
    karreen Member Posts: 11
    edited June 2011

    Thanks ms. deanna.. ive reposted my question in the DCIS forum. and thank you again for the insight. ill update you soon after i get answers.

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  • Ossa
    Ossa Member Posts: 919
    edited October 2011

    Karreen

    my diagnosis was much the same as yours, but tumour was 5 cm and stage 1 I have just (yesterday) had my last of 8 chemo treatments to shrink my tumour before surgery, my tumour has shrunk to the point there is no signs of it. Still need a mastectomy and recon plus i need 25 radiation treatments. i am definitely glad I did the chemo as I feel the results it has given me.

    Good luck with your treatmentsSmile

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  • cycle-path
    cycle-path Member Posts: 1,502
    edited October 2011

    Kareen, if you were stage 0, it's indeed strange that you're being given chemo. I've never heard of that before. Ossa, posting above, notes that she was stage 1 and that's an entirely different thing...

    The only thing I can think of is that it may indeed have been due to your age, as dlb suggests.

    Have you asked your doctor why you're getting chemo, considering your diagnosis? 

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