DCIS and Recurrence on the other side?

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melissa2is
melissa2is Member Posts: 1
edited June 2014 in DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ)

Hello!  I, like many, was hoping to not have to be back on here.  But...my one year follow up mammogram showed a "focal asymmetry" on the opposite side of my DCIS side.  Last year I had 2 partial mastectomies/lumpectomies for DCIS.  I followed this with radiation.  I'm wondering if anyone has experience with recurrence on the other side and/or what a focal asymmetry may mean?  I'm going Friday for follow up testing and possible biopsy (I'm assuming as they have me scheduled for a 2.5 hour appointment).  I know we have a greater risk for recurrence but I'm wondering if anyone has experience with this?  I'm 41 and was diagnosed with DCIS on my first mammogram...no family history.  Thanks in advance!

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  • ej01
    ej01 Member Posts: 155
    edited May 2014


    Hi Melissa,   

    I have a similar situation.  I had DCIS/lumpectomy/rads (refused tamox) in 2011.  My recent mamo found suspicious calcifications that they are going to biopsy in the other breast. My biopsy is scheduled for Monday.  I am 51, with no family history.  I have been reading a lot lately about increased BC risk with dense breasts (which I have).   Its  frustrating,I had believed all of this was behind me ...makes me wonder if my fate will be to get new spots every few years unless I start tamoxifen or get a mastectomy.

     I do not know what the words focal asymmetry mean.   I just wanted to note that when the cancer is in the other breast I don't think it is considered a recurrence ... I think it is just considered a separate cancer.

    Good luck to both of us that our biopsies turn out to be b9

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  • BookWoman
    BookWoman Member Posts: 104
    edited May 2014

    In 2010 I had DCIS on the left side, had lumpectomy and radiation but no Tamoxifen. In 2012  they found tubular carcinoma (a fairly rare type of IDC) in my right breast. I again had lumpectomy and radiation and am now on letrozole. ej01 is right in saying that almost always when it is found on the other side it is a new primary, not a recurrence, especially when the first side was DCIS.

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  • Islandgirl17
    Islandgirl17 Member Posts: 28
    edited May 2014

    Hi Melissa,

    You have probably already found this out via your appointment, as the point, but focal asymmetry means there is increased density on the breast, but there isn't evidence of a discrete mass.  This usually calls for additional mammograms with a different view to see if this will render a more definitive reading.  There are benign reasons for this, as well as non-benign reasons.  Keep in touch and let us know what you find out.

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  • faerywings
    faerywings Member Posts: 173
    edited May 2014

    I had that terminology on my Final Path report along with some other scary sounding stuff, but they assured me that it was all ok, not cancer. I guess with our histories they will want to be very vigilant. Good luck!

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