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TCMarie
TCMarie Member Posts: 2
edited June 2014 in DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ)

This is my first post to this board.  I was diagnosed with DCIS, stage 0, ER+, Gr 2 on January 18th at age 42.  I have met with the surgical oncologist and radiation oncologist.  I also went through the genetic testing that turned out negative.   I have my lumpectomy scheduled for this Thursday, March 1st.  The oncologists are recommending 6 weeks radiation and 5 yr tamoxofin following the surgery.  Now that the day is getting closer, I am really getting nervous about my decision.  The DCIS is on my left side (11:00 if you are looking at me).  My biggest fear is that by going the lumpectomy/radiation route, my future mammograms will be harder to read since the breast tissue has been altered.  I have really dense breast tissue to begin with (and not much of it!).  Has anyone read or spoken to anyone about the effects of radiation on future mammograms?  Thanks.

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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited February 2012

    TCMarie the fact that you have really dense breast tissue means it's going to be difficult anyway. I too had small breasts and dense tissue. Every mammo I had this disclaimer about the mammo results were limited because of my very dense tissue.

    Thing is now they will be watching you very closely now that you've been diagnosed. Anything out of the ordinary they will do an ultra sound and maybe an MRI. You too will be watching closely. Any change in shape, density nipple discharge etc. (not just a lump) will now be reported.

    What does your rad onc say about this?

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  • CLP821
    CLP821 Member Posts: 21
    edited February 2012
    TC Marie - I don't have an answer for you, but my situation is very similar to yours.  I am 41, small breasted, have very dense breasts and had my lumpectomy on 2/8/12.  My DCIS is also in the left breast, in the 1:00 position.  I'm going in for additional surgery tomorrow morning since I didn't get clear margins, to be followed by 33 sessions of radiation and Tamoxifen (well, maybe Tamoxifen, I haven't decided yet even though it's been recommended).  I'm concerned about the scar tissue from the surgeries making my mammos more difficult to read, although my surgeon didn't seem to be too concerned about it when I brought it up to her.  I hadn't really thought about the effects of radiation also making the mammos more difficult to read in the future and would be interested to hear other people's experiences.  BTW, good luck with your surgery on Thursday!
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  • Beesie
    Beesie Member Posts: 12,240
    edited February 2012

    TCMarie, I've read that one of the benefits of Tamoxifen is that apparently it can make dense breast tissue appear a lot less dense on mammograms.  I've seen posts from quite a few women on this board who've had this experience.  

    Additionally, while it's true that scar tissue can make a mammogram more difficult to read, I've had several excisional (surgical) biopsies, and I have extremely dense breast tissue and yet I've never had any problems.  If a baseline mammo is done after your surgery & radiation and the location of the scar tissue is noted, it really should not be a major problem with future mammos. 

    This route would not be recommended to you by your doctors if it was not a realistic and good option for you.  The simple fact is that most women with breast cancer have lumpectomies with radiation and end up having some scar tissue so this is something that mammographers deal with every day.  

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  • TCMarie
    TCMarie Member Posts: 2
    edited February 2012

    Lago - Thank you.  I feel like I asked so many questions when I saw the RO.  I think I just didn't know enough at that point to ask.  I will follow up with him and my surgeon on the tissue concerns.

     CLP821- Thank you for sharing your diagnosis.  Good luck with your surgery tomorrow!  

    Beesie - Thank you for weighing in on this.  That is interesting about the Tamoxifen and definately would be a nice benefit for me.  I have read some of your other posts and appreciate all the other information you have posted out there as well!

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