Diagnosed with DCIS last week

sunny1157 · August 2011

I just want to say first of all that this board is wonderful. Like so many of you, it's a board I never thought I would be part of, but I'm very grateful for all the information. I'm 54 years old with no family history of breast cancer.

I had a stereotactic biopsy done two weeks ago after my yearly mammo came back with a cluster of calcifications and last week found out I have DCIS. I met with my surgeon last Friday and found out the nuclear gade is intermediate to high focal grade (grade II - III) There is central expansive comedo necrosis present. It says the size of the DCIS is DCIS foci (0.1 - 0.5 cm) present in multiple core fragments. My doctor is recommending a partial mastectomy, followed by radiation, and five years of Tamoxifin. She also said because of the central expansive comedo necrosis she will check the sentinel node when she is doing my procedure. Do you know if this is standard practice? I really pray there is nothing in it. She did say it's a small area, which is good. I have my procedure Sept. 8 and can't wait to get it over with. I'm so nervous something else will be found when she's in there. Do any of you know what my chances of that are? I was so confident that my stereotactic would come back fine after hearing 85% of them do. Now I'm afraid to think it will only be DCIS.

Again, this board is a Godsend. Best wishes to all of you wonderful ladies.

Nancy

BeckySharp · August 2011

Nancy--I was in your same position in January. My doctor wanted to do the surgery quickly since I had Grade 3. He wanted to make sure there were no invasive cells. I had a lumpectomy (partial masectomy) on Valentine's Day. I had SNB. Two nodes were taken and were clear. Because of that, thick enough margin, and age (63) I was able to do mammosite radiation the next week. I was back at work in two weeks. I hope it turns out the same for you. If you have any other questions, let me know. Becky

Emaline · August 2011

Nancy so very sorry you had to join us. I have my exchange surgery on the 9th

With a MX it is common for a SNB but I think more doctors are doing them with lumpectomies as well. It is unfortunate, but until the final pathology is in...you don't know what you are dealing with.

My very best wishes on no more cancer, clear nodes and a speedy recovery for you

echosg · September 2011

I had 1 cm of DCIS - grade 2 w/ comedo necrosis. Did a lumpectomy and no one ever suggested a SNB. Sometimes I'm a little curious about the need to do one. I am glad I didn't have one only because I feel my healing time was shorter and my risk of lymphedema is less. If my pathology report had come back showing microinvasion, then I would have asked for a SNB.

sophiebaxter · September 2011

Nancy- Sounds similar to what happened to me. 58, no history of breast cancer in the family, told that 85% are nothing to worry about, had to have an incisional biopsy because of the location but was told at that time that it looked good. Then the DCIS diagnosis. Small size, the surgeon took it all out with 3mm clear margins when he did the biopsy so I'm just waiting to talk to the radiologist and the oncologist to see where I go from here. Like you, I'm hoping that they don't find anything else. It's nerve racking, isn't it ? I wish both of us luck while we're waiting.

Iz_and_Lys_Mum · September 2011

Hi Nancy

I was dx with DCIS last year, and my surgeon did a sentinal node biopsy at the same time as a lumpectomy. Its a totally standard practice. My tumour was 6.3 cms, and hadnt spread. Sorry you have had to join the club, and sending positive thoughts and hugs for you.

Good luck

Xxx

Diagnosed with DCIS last week

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