Path report confusion

Wow, just when I start to think I have a handle on this DCIS stuff, something new pops up.  Here's what I just found on line at the National Cancer Institute website.  Hope this helps.

Hi, back again....I deleted my earlier post because I had cut and paste from another site and it came across terrible - hard to read.  So, of course now I can't find that website but it was from the National Cancer Institute.  Your take on it sounds like what their site said - it's based on size etc.  If I can find that summary page again I'll send you the link.

I had a  bilateral mastcetcomy for DCIS in Jan 2011. If you have pure DCIS, chemo is not needed according to all the posts I have been reading on this site and american cancer society's website. I have learned that if margins aren't clear after a mastectomy radiation may  be required. My onocologist told me that for DCIS, there is no need for tamoxifen after a mastectomy because all the cancer has been removed with the milk ducts with the mastectomy. My surgeon,however, disagreed and wanted to put me tamoxifen. Both doctors gave valid reasons for their arguments regarding tamoxifen for pure DCIS after a BMX. My decision was made for me because of other health problems that prohibits me from taking tamoxifen, and to be honest, I was leaning towards following the medical onocolgist's stance because he has more training in that area than the surgeon (in my opinion. Pure DCIS is always stage 0. However, if the DCIS has broken thru the milk ducts, which it sometimes can, it is called DCIS stage 0 with microinvasions. I am not sure if that is classified as stage I or not, or how much is needed beyond the DCIS to classify as  IDC stage I. You can search this website or american cancer society website for lots of really good information that can answer basic questions about cancer in general. Good luck with your dilemma.If  you are confused by your pathology report, ask a doctor to sit down and go over it with you. My medical oncologist was wonderful in sitting down and explaining the whole schpeel about cell mutation, cancer, treatments, pathology report, etc.

Our situations are quite similar!  My doctor says Tamoxifen will not really benefit the removed breast but would be to offer protection on my remaining breast.  However you had a BMX, so I doubt in your situation that my doctor would recommend it.  He really seems kind of 50/50 on me taking it. He doesn't want me to start it until after my reconstruction is done due to the possibilities of blood clots. He said once I started, if I choose to take it, I would need to confer with an oncologist.

I had an appointment scheduled with my breast surgeon for 2 weeks out from surgery but he called and gave me the all clear, went over the path report on the phone. I asked if I still needed to come in face to face and he said no, unless I really wanted to hear the words again.  I'm to call when I'm done with reconstruction and we will go from there, so I'm thinking September?  Really not sure.  

No, no oncologist yet.  I even spoke with the oncologist department and they said with DCIS, they generally did not meet until after all the surgeries were done, unless DX warranted it. But I know every doctor is different.  I have a friend who is a few steps ahead of me, same DX but hers was in February, and her BS recommended a visit to the onco. The onco wrote the prescription for Tamoxifen for her, but she said he really didn't do anything else for her.

mommyrnx2 - my BS referred me to both a radiation oncologist (as you know) and to a regular oncologist.   Meeting with the oncologist next week.   I'm thinking that one is just a formality, hopefully!   Hoping you get those drains out today too!!