DCIS - Rads vs. No Rads

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suzydthatisme
suzydthatisme Member Posts: 28
edited September 2016 in DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ)

Hi Everyone,

I was recently diagnosed with low grade DCIS (found within a radial sclerosing lesion) after a diagnostic lumpectomy. My screening mammogram showed 'architectural distortion' and there was no palpable lump. My surgeon has referred me to a radiation oncologist but he believes that radiation won't be recommended because the DCIS was small (1.3 cm), low grade and he got large, clear margins. I've done some reading and from what I gather the chance of recurrence is all over the map for DCIS, but the risk seems to be lower for women in my circumstance. Have any of you been diagnosed with a small, low grade DCIS and not had radiation treatments?

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  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 4,505
    edited September 2016

    I was diagnosed with large, high-grade DCIS and had mastectomy. Radiation was not recommended for that side.

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  • Beesie
    Beesie Member Posts: 12,240
    edited September 2016

    Rads after a MX for DCIS is very unusual - the only circumstance under which rads may be given after a MX for DCIS is when the surgical margins are positive or extremely narrow.

    The situation after a lumpectomy, as Suzy is asking about, is very different. Rads is almost always recommended after a lumpectomy for DCIS, although there are some cases when it might be considered optional. The Oncotype test for DCIS (which is different from the Oncotype test for invasive cancer) can be helpful in assessing the need for rads in cases where the diagnosis appears to be a 'low risk'. Suzy, you might want to see if this test is available to you - it's not all that well established so it's possible that it's not part of the Nova Scotia testing protocol for women with DCIS.

    And here is a link to another recent 'no radiation' thread in the DCIS forum, where you will find more information, as well as posts from women who opted to pass on rads: https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/68/topics...



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  • Snowflake67
    Snowflake67 Member Posts: 32
    edited September 2016

    I just got told of my dcis-very small. Surgery next week then I was told I would have radiation -still learning and trying to figure it out. I already have my first oncologist appt 2 weeks after surgery

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  • Janet456
    Janet456 Member Posts: 507
    edited September 2016

    Mine was 9mm of grade 2 with 3mm margins. I skipped rads, still doing well 4 years later. Only time will tell and I remember clearly my dilemma at the time of decision making. 4 years down the line that angst has faded. At the time I wanted and needed guarantees and nobody could give me that, i'm fine with it now. Hopefully I won't need rads in future but I'm good with the fact that it's still an option. Gook luck to you xxx

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