Anyone 5 -10 yrs out frm DCIS who didn't choose radiation?

I opted out of rads with the blessing of the Oncologist. I kinda thought it's a weapon I'd rather keep up my sleeve if needed in future and my closest margin was 3mm.

Time will tell and to be honest I think about it less now, but I do remember the angst I went through at the time. It's coming up 6 years now but I still keep my fingers crossed.

All the best with your decision making, it's not an easy one xx

I am struggling with the decision too. I also had great 3, and good clear margins. I’m really leaning towards just taking Femara for 5 years. They wanted me to do both radiation and medication. I’m a couple years post menopausal. Anyone else not do the radiation?

Thanks,

Jill

I choose to have the rads because my onc rad told me it would reduce my reoccurrence chances down from 30% to 9%. I liked the numbers so I went for it. Everyone is a different case so it does become a matter of personal choice depending on the case information as a whole. It’s still not an easy decision to make. I’m only 4.5 years out, time will tell, but I’m confident I made the right choice for meand hoping those numbers apply to me. I hope you come to a peaceful decision for yourself!

Frozen - Here is my DCIS 'story' - I had my diagnosis of DCIS back in July, 2008 (close to ten years ago now) -- left breast -- after a digital mamm which showed a cluster of microcalcifications followed by a lumpectomy/surgical excision. Mine was a very small focus area of DCIS (1.6 mm) with nothing identified as comedo (path report indicated solid & cribriform) NO necrosis present, considered intermediate grade, and I had clear margins after the surgical excision/lumpectomy. I have not had any additional treatment besides my excisional biopsy/surgical excision in July '08. At follow up appt. a medical oncologist spoke with me and told me that my tumor was so tiny he thought there was a miniscule chance it would cause me problems down the road and he did not recommend radiation therapy or hormonal therapy with their associated risks and side effects for my particular situation. I also met with a radiation oncologist who wavered a bit on his recommendation, (seems I was sort of in a 'gray' area on rad treatments mainly because of my age at that time - 46 - and one margin although clear was quite 'close' at 1.3 mm) but ultimately told me after we had a long discussion that I get a 'pass'. Therefore, I decided against doing anything more except for close monitoring with mammograms and MRI's as needed.I have had two additional biopsies since the initial diagnosis of that tiny area of DCIS. In summer of 2011 microcalc's were again found in that same left breast and I endured another excisional biopsy which indicated all benign conditions. In July 2012 a small grouping of microcalc's (less than ten) were again showing up in left breast on mamm and I had a stereotactic biopsy to remove the majority of them which also came back benign. They put a 'marker' in at the time of stereo biopsy and I have had follow up mamm's since then which thankfully continue to be 'stable' in that area. I am at the point now, almost ten years since first lumpectomy/surgical excision, of being back to annual checks. My DCIS was a very, very tiny area, but I did not choose to do any further treatment.

Hi all..Well here I am back here again..NEVER EVER thought that this would happen... I am just 6 yrs from my mastectomy in 2011.. I had dcis in left breast & stage 0.. I chose a mastectomy..with reconst.. I was told that I didn't need chemo or rads after that. I DIDNT WANT A LUMPECTOMY..DUE TO NEEDING RADS AFTER THAT... Well I went for my yearly mammo & ultrasound on Friday April 20 2018. soo many pics.I said to myself uh oh..!! Then the ultrasound.. Radiologist came into room & did it herself..& said I'm sorry but I have 2 areas THAT ARE SUSPICIOUS.!!!! SHE THINKS MAYBE DCIS AGAIN.. ??? & WANTS ME TO HAVE STEREOTACTIC CORE BIOPSY.. I ALMOST FAINTED IN SHOCK !! SINCE I WAS A BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR.*** I DIDN'T SEE MY BREAST SURGEON ON THAT DAY..WAS MY FIRST TIME SEEING A NURSE PRACTITIONER.. MY PLAN IS TO SPEAK TO MY BREAST SURGEON & GET HER TAKE ON THIS.. SO NOW I AM A NERVOUS WRECK WONDERING WHAT THE HECK I HAVE NOW IN MY " GOOD BOOB" BY THE WAY..I ALSO SURVIVED 3 OTHER CANCERS THAT WERE NOT RELATED TO THE B.C... THE LATEST CANCER DX IN DEC. 2017 WAS MELANOMA STAGE 1 A..HAD SURGERY & ALL IS WELL WITH THAT FOR NOW..ANY THOUGHTS ARE WELCOME..THANKS.. HOPEDREAMS. XO