Sizing, staging of DCIS

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Emaline
Emaline Member Posts: 492
edited June 2014 in DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ)

Does size of the area of DCIS found ever matter with staging of DCIS? 

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  • redsox
    redsox Member Posts: 523
    edited June 2011

    As long as it is all DCIS the Stage is always 0 and there are no staging subcategories by size, but greater size of lesion is a factor that is associated with higher recurrence risk.  The explanation usually given is that with a larger area of DCIS there is a greater chance of 1) an undiscovered invasive component or 2) some DCIS cells having been left behind.  The more thorough the pathological assessment of the removed tissue, the better for avoiding 1).  The wider the margins, the better for avoiding 2).  Either is still possible.

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  • mom3band1g
    mom3band1g Member Posts: 817
    edited June 2011

    The more DCIS the harder to get good margins especially in relation to the size of your breast.  redsox gave a good answer!  As another 6+ cm gal I can tell you I needed rads even after my mast but I had very small breasts.

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  • kathyob
    kathyob Member Posts: 36
    edited June 2011

    I was worried about this too, thank you for asking. I had 5 cm, and had a lumpectomy and radiation. I was worried because the the extent was more than they originally thought. I just went for my 3 month check up with the surgeon, and won't see him for another 6 mos. Is that the schedule you all are on? I won't have a mammogram until that time, which would be a year from the time I was diagnosed. Thanks!!

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  • Tildymom
    Tildymom Member Posts: 32
    edited June 2011

    So the smaller the size, is that a better chance that it might not be DCIS?  OR doesn't matter that it's only 2cm?

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  • juliet62
    juliet62 Member Posts: 3,412
    edited June 2011

    my dcis was 1.8cm!   had lumpectomy and now radiation

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited June 2011

    DCIS is always stage 0.  The grade is what refers to the size with grade 3 being the largest.  Please read the thread called "DCIS facts and misconceptions".  There is a lot of great information spelled out there.

    http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/68/topic/770422 

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  • Tildymom
    Tildymom Member Posts: 32
    edited June 2011

    Thanks Kate33!!  I will check out the site!

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  • IronJawedBCAngel
    IronJawedBCAngel Member Posts: 470
    edited June 2011

    Grade is not just to do with size, it is more to do with type of cancer cell and aggression of that cell.  My DCIS was only two foci of .38 and .48. but was Grade 3 due to comedo cells with necrosis.  Another site for great information is dcis.info.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited June 2011

    IronJawed- Thanks for correcting me.  That's what I get for trying to post at 1:30 in the morning!  LOL!  I meant to write the size can affect the grade because the higher the grade the quicker the cells are growing.  Here is some great info on DCIS right here on BCO-

    http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/types/dcis/diagnosis.jsp 

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