Can you have a reoccurrence from DCIS after Bil mastectomy

I think it's done with an mri. . .that's what I was told. The recurrence rate varies but is normally in the single digits with DCIS mastectomy over 10 years. The database (NCN ?) my oncologist showed me was at 7% for my situation (grade 3 w/ comedo necrosis), but my situation wasn't exactly covered in the database either (margins only went to 1 mm in entry data and mine were less than 1mm). From what I understand, statistically, it's not that much more than the general population when you've had mastectomies.

did u have the oncotype genetic testing done??

Jshoemake01 By definition, DCIS is "in situ", which means "in place". So if you remove it from where it is, it isn't coming back. Invasive cancer can come back, because it was invasive, left the spot where it started, and can therefore get into the surrounding tissue and chest wall. When they do a mastectomy they try to get every last breast tissue cell, although it can happen that they miss a few; those few can turn into cancer. It is very rare, somewhere around 2%. I look at it this way: there is nothing else you can do -- you've done everything you can to prevent breast cancer. So go on and live your life and stop worrying since there is nothing you can do at this point. Worry about wearing sunscreen so you don't get skin cancer -- probably more chance of that happening.

As far as how they check for it, you won't be getting mammograms anymore; I would just ask your doctor if you're concerned about how to check for a recurrence -- probably self-exam.

not to be dense, but if you have your breast removed, including all the ducts, how can you get DCIS again, since by definition it is in the duct only. Wouldn't it be IDC if it was found again in the absence of ducts?

I actually raised that issue recently with my BS when I went for my exam because I said that there are way more women that get a recurrence within 2 years after DCIS than is reported and she said that it actually would not be deemed a recurrnce but a new form of cancer that is almost always infiltrating or invasive which is why it's important to have anything you feel checked out.  Definitely not something we want to hear, but I think it's all a crapshoot anyway.   I'm BRCA negative.  My dad had leukemia and skin cancer.  Yes, they say it's not connected to BC but since they don't where BC comes from to begin with, how do they know for sure??