What would you do? DCIS stage 0, grade 1

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Infobabe
Infobabe Member Posts: 1,083
edited June 2014 in DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ)

I am 76 and fair skinned.

Home again.  Had the test to see if the baloon was properly seated for the seeding and it is not.  It is too close to the surface so Mammosite is a no go.

New choices: Partial breast radiation, like a mammosite from the outside taking three weeks.

Whole breast radiation for 5 weeks, both of these once a day, 5 days a seek.

Mastectomy

And I am thinking, not the doctors suggestion, doing nothing based on the pathology report on Friday.  After all, it is DCIS stage 0, grade 1.

 Had the spacer balloon and catheter taken out today which is a relief in itself.  I had my first sponge bath today, doable but cold.  Don't have to do that anymore.

Got to do more research.  Wonder what no further treatment would mean.  My poor left breast has been radiated all to hell starting with a needle biopsy 8 years ago to this seies maybe making more mutations.

Grrrrrr.

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  • J9W
    J9W Member Posts: 395
    edited May 2012

    I think I'd do nothing - but ask for check ups every six months.

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  • Infobabe
    Infobabe Member Posts: 1,083
    edited May 2012

    That's what I'm thinking.  I find out about the path report tomorrow.  If it is all clear, then that is what I will want.  My family will go nuts thinking I am headed for the grave.  I am so ready to have the damn thing cut off.  Not religious, but "if thy eye offends thee, puck it out!!!!"

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  • ej01
    ej01 Member Posts: 155
    edited May 2012

    I think I would do nothing further since it is grade 1.  

    If you start to lean toward radiation, You may want to see if external partial breast radiation for 5 days is an option(2x/day) instead of 3 weeks.  That's what I had (grade 3, 3mm tumor and low proliferation index, 49 y.o.)   There were no side effects.

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  • Infobabe
    Infobabe Member Posts: 1,083
    edited May 2012

    Good advice.  I will ask about it.  How long ago did you have your procedure?

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  • cinnamonsmiles
    cinnamonsmiles Member Posts: 779
    edited May 2012

    Hello, there is a lady on here, Beesie, who has excellent information about DCIS. I have "bumped" up her thread called DCIS, Facts and Misconceptions. I think you will find some good information on there.

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  • Infobabe
    Infobabe Member Posts: 1,083
    edited May 2012

    I will look for it.

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  • ej01
    ej01 Member Posts: 155
    edited May 2012

    Infobabe,  I had my procedure last October.

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  • mckenna
    mckenna Member Posts: 413
    edited May 2012

    I have DCIS grade 1 also but i am only 38. my RO said if i were older he would recommend no rads or the one week course that someone else had posted but because in the BC world i am young, he recommended 5 weeks of total boob radiation. i am set to start next friday.

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  • Infobabe
    Infobabe Member Posts: 1,083
    edited May 2012

    mckenna 

    That sounds about right because you are still pumping out hormones.  I had a complete hysterectomy 33 years ago.  I assume your Stage 0 is E/P+.

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  • Infobabe
    Infobabe Member Posts: 1,083
    edited May 2012

    Just got back from the surgeon and they did not get clear margins, but it is all DCIS, nothing worse.  They did on all sides except for one.  This is because the DCIS is located high on my chest where there is not much tissue to work with.  I will have more surgery either lumpectomy or mastectomy.

    These are my new options: Simple mastectomy with no rads but probable hormone.  Three week  partial breast rads. Five week whole breast rads, all with hormones later to be decided.

     Pretty much a toss up but my husband who has not offered any opinion until now says if it were him, we would go for the 5 week rads.   It is the most consevative and the longevity is the same for all. 

    I had a phone call into my RO to ask how do they protect my lungs and heart.  He called back and they do take measures.  That is the deciding factor.  I can always go back to the mastectomy which is very final.

     No fun.  But I am lucky that my life is not at risk.  A speed bump on my way to a nice summer. 

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  • ppeople
    ppeople Member Posts: 207
    edited May 2012

    I am in favor of surgical rather than systemic treatments.  Now I may be biased as I just had PBMX, but here is my thinking.  Breast cancer is a local problem when it is stage 0, as yours is.  Surgery is a local solution, radiation is not.  Even with protection, there is some risk for heart and lung damage and future cancers.  Now, sometimes the risk-benefit ratio makes that well worth it.  For stage 0 I do not believe it does, for me, everyone has their own reasons for making their decisions.  I would rather have a MX and that's it.  I wonder how your age affects prognosis if you do nothing?

    Just my $.02

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  • Infobabe
    Infobabe Member Posts: 1,083
    edited May 2012

    Those are my concerns too. 

    There have been no discussions about hormal therapy that will follow.  That has side efects like heart trouble, joint and bone pain, nightmares; no one has discussed this yet.  No oncotyping.  Why haven't I seen an oncologist yet so I can discuss.  I am going to call Monday morning to get a consultation with one.  No one really has time for me.  The surgeon just gets me in and out.  I wasn't prepard for the "no clear margins report" and it thrown me for a loop.

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  • ppeople
    ppeople Member Posts: 207
    edited May 2012

    Will you need hormonal tx if you opt for mx?

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  • Infobabe
    Infobabe Member Posts: 1,083
    edited May 2012

    That is what I am trying to find out.

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