How much to worry about close margins after MX?

yes, I had the same kind of pathology report. My margins were less than 0.3 mm from the skin and I thought they normally want a wider margin than that. My plastic surgeon seemed concerned with this but my breast surgeon said it was fine. I ended up going to an oncologist to get his insight. He said close margins like that are concerning if it's invasive cancer but since dcis is contained and hasn't spread the close margins no longer matter. I know every doctor may say something a little different but hopefully that helps you a little. I see you just had the same type of surgery I did. Hope you're feeling better each day.

I had a somewhat similar situation and wanted to post in hopes it might help someone else. I had no idea that I could end up with the possibility of re-excision after mastectomy. (I totally blame myself, although I do think it is uncommon). My less than 1mm margin was anterior, or close to the skin, and my cancer was at one o'clock. My BS said I could have radiation or she could remove a wedge of tissue to get a better margin. I chose the re-excision, which was done 10 days after my bilateral mastectomy. The tissue removed was benign, so no radiation was necessary. However, I have quite a scar running from my breast to my armpit, which my BS was completely up front about in our discussion. The scar was not a concern for me. Re-excision was the best option for me and my situation.

So sorry you are dealing with this too. But the bottom line is that a mx is really an effective treatment for DCIS even with close or a positive margin. I researched this extensively five years ago and there is a 50 - 50 split in the literature. To have radiation or not:

NOT: Saves the use of radiation for later use if necessary (hopefully not) and even more importantly, saves your body from unnecessary radiation (hopefully again . . . that it was not necessary, I mean) and

HAVING RADIATION: Does reduce your chances of a recurrence, but at the expense of having radiation and using up a treatment that could be saved for later if required.

Studies both support and disagree with radiation following mx with positive margins equally, as the chance of complete response to treatment without radiation is still so high. As my RO put it, it depends upon your personality type. He agreed that my A type personality would not relax without doing everything upfront. Radiation has risks, but I could for some reason, accept that. Five years later I am facing a similar situation with my thyroid and just want to say, "someone make this less difficult please!" But I also feel very lucky to have to face two cancers that have such high rates of treatment. NOW, did the radiation lead to my highly likely thyroid cancer that they cannot confirm without removing it first. Studies support and contradict that theory too. So now, should I monitor it further or have it removed? Coming out later this month. And on we go.

But ladies, regardless, rest assured that you have had treatment considered very effective in treating your DCIS. Studies now state that we over estimate the risk that DCIS presents. It does get easier, but DCIS is not free from risk. Take care and try to enjoy each day without giving it away to fear. Wish I had.