How do I know that the cancer isn't "everywhere?"

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LifeOfBabbs
LifeOfBabbs Member Posts: 28
edited February 2016 in Diagnosed and Waiting for Test Results

I was recently diagnosed with DCIS, and have a lumpectomy scheduled for next week (02/25/2016). There are so many thoughts running through my head right now. But I think my first concern is, since they did the biopsy and told me the results, how do they know I don't have cancer in other places? Do the docs typically run tests after the initial diagnosis to see if the cancer is anywhere else? Thank you!

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  • Supportive
    Supportive Member Posts: 81
    edited February 2016

    you must trust the experts i believe

    Dcis is probably one of the best outcomes in a diagnosis but the ladies on here will know more then me. From reading and reading it appears to be

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  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited February 2016

    DCIS - Ductal Carcinoma In Situ. 'In Situ' means that it is stilll in the site it originated at and has not spread out of that area. No reason to think of metastasis. If for some strange reason your Drs think there is a reason to check - a full body CT,/MRI with contrast or a PET will show any area that might be of concern.

    Talk to your Drs about your concern - they are the one(s) who can answer your individual questions. None of us here are medical personnel who are actually seeing you and your reports.

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited February 2016

    If the pathology from your lumpectomy surgery shows pure DCIS, with no invasive component, cancer would not have traveled outside the duct, or breast - so no scans or body-wide imaging would be warranted.  DCIS is ductal carcinoma in situ - meaning that it is completely contained within the duct.

    Here is the information from this site:

    http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/types/dcis

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  • ElaineTherese
    ElaineTherese Member Posts: 3,328
    edited February 2016

    If (and this is a big if) your pathology from your lumpectomy shows some IDC mixed with the DCIS, then you can talk to your doctor about performing further scans if you need reassurance. But, even ladies with IDC might not get further scans if their invasive cancer is tiny, slow-growing (Grade 1), and shows no signs of spreading to the lymph nodes. Scans are expensive, and doctors tend to reserve them for patients with relatively larger lumps, compromised lymph nodes, and rapidly dividing cells (Grade 3).

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  • MsPharoah
    MsPharoah Member Posts: 1,034
    edited February 2016

    Hi, lifeofBabbs, This is a time of uncertainty for sure. I wanted to share some additional information about what happened in my case. My biopsy showed both LCIS (non-invasive) and ILC (invasive). The area of concern was small, however I went into overdrive with worry about the possibility of the cancer having spread already. I was referred to a breast surgeon who did the following: 1) took a complete health history 2) asked for information about just about every part of my body in a 2 page symptom checklist 3) reviewed my images and test results 4) performed an ultrasound of my breast and underarm and did a normal breast examination, checked my lungs and checked the abdominal lymph nodes and liver area. This information confirmed for him that I had a clinical stage 1 cancer with no lymph involvement....to be confirmed later with final pathology from the surgery. The big issue after my surgical consult was what type of surgery to have....lumpectomy, mastectomy, bilateral mastectomy??? That decision was made after an MRI and genetic testing. The MRI confirmed the extent of the cancer in the breast to be only residual cancer left from the biopsy. Fortunately, my final pathology after lumpectomy confirmed my surgeon's initial clinical diagnosis and he was able to get huge negative margins with a lumpectomy.

    My advice is to try not to worry. You do not have invasive cancer at this point and if that holds true after your surgery, there is no way that it could have spread. And even in the off chance that there is an invasive component, it must be small, otherwise it would have been detected. Also, make sure that you go to a surgeon who does breast surgery as a specialty. They are more experienced and can offer better clinical diagnosis than a general surgeon and ensure that you have all the information you need to make a surgical decision....in my humble opinion.

    MsP


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