newly diagnosed

Hi. Sorry that you find yourself here but hopefully we can be helpful to you.  LCIS, as you are no doubt finding in your research, does not have a well defined protocol.  Most believe that PLCIS has the potential to be more aggressive than classic LCIS (thought certainly not everyone believes this).  You'll have more frequent mammos and hopefully you'll be given the option to get a breast MRI as well.  Mammos and MRIs can pick up on different changes and both are useful. (someone more knowledgeable on this issue will likely chime in soon). Were you referred to an oncologist?  This is most likely the person that would prescribe Tamoxofen, etc if it is an option you are interested in.  When are you to go back to your breast surgeon?  The good thing about LCIS is that you have time to research and ask lots of questions.  No need to rush into any treatment.  I was diagnosed with PLCIS and it was only after I came back armed with questions did my original surgeon refer me on to an oncologist.  I liked my breast surgeon very much but she didn't have much experience at all with LCIS so I did some research and found a team that I really felt fit my needs better.  Please ask anything that will help you wrap your brain around this diagnosis.

Thinking of you,

Kelly

dgardner------I was diagnosed with LCIS almost 8 years ago and my  risk is further elevated by family history of bc (mom had ILC; but is still doing well after more than 24 years). I took tamoxifen for the full 5 years and now I take evista for further preventative measures (I tolerate both meds well overall); I continue with high risk surveillance of alternating mammos and MRIs every 6 months with breast exams on the opposite 6 months, so essentially I'm "seen" by some method every 3 months, which gives me more peace of mind.

I've read that PLCIS is thought to be somewhat more serious than classic LCIS, and treated more like a DCIS. But if your LCIS is pleomorphic, it should say that specifically on your pathology report. (otherwise it should be safe to assume that it is classic LCIS).

The purpose of the close monitoring is not  to try and find more areas of LCIS (although they certainly may, as it is thought to be a multicentric, multifocal, bilateral disease); it is to detect anything more serious, such as DCIS or invasive bc.

I would suggest you go to an oncologist; they can help assess your overall risk, discuss the pros and cons of taking tamoxifen (or evista, if you're post menopausal), and consider adding yearly MRI to your monitoring. 

Feel free to PM me if you'd like to talk.  I've been dealing  with this high risk a long time now and know how good it feels to be able to talk with someone who has gone thru it.

Anne