Question about DCIS

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Squid88
Squid88 Member Posts: 4
edited June 2014 in Second or Third Breast Cancer

Hi. Had a partial mastectomy 4 and a half years ago, then radiation, zoladex for 2 years and ongoing tamoxifen. Have just been told that it is very likely that I have ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) in the same breast but different area. have had the biopsy and now just waiting for the results. Have been looking online for possible op scenarios but can't find the combination of treated BC a with DCIS after. All I can find is recurrance of invasive BC. It seems that if you get Another tumour then a full mastectomy is on the cards as the breast cannot be irradiated twice. Does anyone know if that's the case with DCIS?



My tumour was estrogen positive and grade 3. I was 39 when diagnosed with BC .



Thanks for any help you can give me. Kathryn



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  • Karen3
    Karen3 Member Posts: 307
    edited May 2012

    Hi Squid88

    You are right - they will not irradiate the same breast twice so it is highly likely that if the biopsy confirms BC again, then you will be offered a mastectomy - especially if this is another grade 3 DCIS.

    All the best to you!

    Karen.

     

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  • Squid88
    Squid88 Member Posts: 4
    edited May 2012

    Hi Karen. Thanks for your reply. Still a bit confused though. I thought that DCIS didn't mean cancer/tumour; rather it was a pre-cancer situation.... Thanks again, Kathryn

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  • bevg49
    bevg49 Member Posts: 739
    edited May 2012

    hi there, squid... I am about to have a mastectomy on 6/7. I have 1 tumor which is dcis and another which is invasive although small, 2.5 mm... I was told dcis IS cancer. It is cancer cells that have not invaded the breast tissue but is contained within a duct. It needs to be treated so it doesn't spread and unfortunately, you can only have radiation one time on the same breast. It's good news that it's dcis which I was told by my doctor has a near 100% survival rate.

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  • LAstar
    LAstar Member Posts: 1,574
    edited May 2012

    I encountered a lot of conflicting attitudes about DCIS from my treatment team.  The MO said, "Congratulations -- you don't have cancer!" but the BS thinks it should come out soon since it is high grade and fast-growing.  I'm finally just coming to grips with the seriousness of the diagnosis after all the initial confusion.  It hasn't become invasive, which is great, and shouldn't require chemo.  But it has to go!

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  • Squid88
    Squid88 Member Posts: 4
    edited May 2012

    Hi bevy. Thanks for your reply. I've never used a forum or getting information before. It's been great getting answers to my questions so quickly . Good luck with your op.!

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  • bevg49
    bevg49 Member Posts: 739
    edited May 2012
    Hiya Squid... I'd never used a forum like this either. Had no reason to. It is amazing how helpful and  caring everyone here is and how much you can learn.  There is so much doctor's won't really tell you. You can find out here from people who've been there, done that. I am so grateful I found this place and really plan to use it after my surgery (as soon as I can type - don't know about that after a lymph node dissection). It's a good bunch of gals, that's for sure.
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  • 1openheart
    1openheart Member Posts: 765
    edited May 2012

    Hi squidd....if you really want to learn a lot about DCIS search for a member named Beesie's posts.  She is a wealth of knowledge and has several great post explaining the ins and outs of DCIS.  Bev is right, DCIS  is cancer.  It is a pre invasive cancer, not a pre cancer.  And from what I understand, you cannot have radiation on the same breast twice.

    Good luck to you.  Please continue to use these forums for knowledge, advice, support and friendship whenever you feel the need.  We are here 24/7!! 

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  • LAstar
    LAstar Member Posts: 1,574
    edited May 2012

    Here is a helpful link from Beesie:

    http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/68/topic/770422?page=3#idx_70

    This is a summary of recent research on DCIS from a conference late last year: 

    http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/68/topic/763326?page=1#idx_9 

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