Has anyone had Reoccurance of DCIS after a Mastectomy

should I request an MRI or Pet Scan to figure out whats going on with this lump? Its on the bony part of cleavage area between the top of the implant and my collarbone. I have appt for regular primary doctor on Monday I was going to call today and swe if she can put orders in to do an MRI or Pet Scan. Ive never had an MRI or Pet Scan for my breast. My BS usually uses ultrasound. Is that as effective in determining if this is cancer, fluid pocket, scar tissue, fat necrosis etc?

The best way for answers is usually a biopsy. Then if results are positive they do MRI imaging of the area. I'm not sure why they would opt to do a scan first. But an ultrasound - yes. They'll be able to see if a biopsy is necessary.

It is not "near impossible"...but is quite rare for recurrence (2%ish). Because their are no ducts that means if it comes back it would be invasive. But there are all kinds of little bumps that can emerge. I imagine they'd feel the bump and do ultrasound and then do a biopsy of the lump if necessary. They would probably do an ultrasound of your lymph nodes/axilla too. I doubt they would jump to MRI right away. I was told if it comes back it usually happens along the scar line...

Have you felt other bones on your body? A lot of them have little bumps. I freaked myself out touching some ribs of mine (no recon) thinking that I had a new lump, but then if I felt bones on other areas of my body or on lower ribs, bones have a weird bumpy texture... however, they do seem to move and not be so "hard.' Hopefully you get answers soon.

Well just left my primary dr office. Shes sending me dor an uktrasound today at 300. Please say a prayer for me.

kbeee,

Well, they saw what i felt on ultrasound. Now keep in mind this is an imaging center my primary sent me to not my bs doing the imaging... but they saw one spot that looked fluid filled. And another that the radiology tech called a complex cyst. There recommendation was wither:

1) Wait 3 months and see if it gets larger or

2) biopsy the complex cyst and make sure theres no concerns.

He followed that up with we cant guarentee we dont damage your implants!! He asked what i wanted to do. Well, first off if i biopsy it would be my bs doing it not this guy! He wasn't nice at all.

I told him i would make an appt with my bs. I have an appt this thursday. We will see what she says.

I think the decision to biopsy them is subjextive. Get a copy of the report. You can then post the text of it on the thread for interpreting your report and DJ mammo can weigh in.

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/83/topics/858196?page=38#idx_1112

@Mommyathome how did your appointment go on Thursday? Hoping it went well for you

Sounds like that PA was condescending. How frustrating. I got angry just reading that. Go for the rescan in 3 months and see if anything has changed. And hopefully you do not see that PA again.

I am sensitive to this because I dumped my exMO after he blew me off when I had a concerning lump and said , “ you are NOT at risk of recurrence. If it goes from a grape to a golf ball, call me. Otherwise, ignore it".

As you can see.... he was wrong. I recurred 6 months later

Someone that tells you not to worry just does not “get it". It is fine to say you are low risk, but then stress the need to always remain vigilant

wow! Seems like oncologists with compassion are hard to come by. Seems people frequently get dismissed or belittled for being concerned about their own health. Bet they’d feel differently if it were their own body.

if I understand correctly, the DCIS (needle biopsy) diagnosed on my remaining right breast would be considered a new cancer.

Only if it is found to be IDC after mastectomy (which is what happened seven years ago) would it be considered a recurrence.

If it is a recurrence rather than DCISis a different chemo recommended? In other words, can you have the same chemo regime twice?

Barbjc, did you have any close margins following your mastectomy?

I too had DCIS-Mi (which because of the presence of the small amount of invasive cancer is Stage I, not Stage 0) and I too a MX. The final pathology showed one close surgical margin (1mm) at the skin. Radiation was not recommended, but at the time of my exchange surgery, I asked my PS to remove the edge of the skin at the scar line, since that is where the close margin was located and that's the most common location for a recurrence after a MX.

Normally rads are not recommended after a MX for DCIS, except in rare occasions where there is a close surgical margin, and usually more so if the close margin is by the chest wall, since there is no way surgically to remove that. When there is a close margin at the skin, it's not uncommon to remove a bit more skin, as I had done. The alternative when there is a close margin is hormone therapy, which normally would not be recommended after a BMX for DCIS or DCIS-Mi. I wonder if you did have a close margin and that was the reason for the original recommendation that you take Tamoxifen.

Hi Beesie,

Just dragged out my breast cancer file that I thought I would never have to take out again! Ugh! Ilooked up my path for BMX and it stated that the final margins were clear.

Of the 11 blocks examined in my left breast, only one block had DCIS, solid comedo nuclear grade of 3. My most recent small cyst was in the same area as my original breast cancer...although in my original breast cancer I never had a lump, just calcifications.

I haven't read your information yet, did you have any recurrence or a new breast cancer develop, or are you still good? are you taking any hormone therapy?

thanks again for taking the time to respond, you sound very knowledgeable and helpful in this area!

TB90,

Thanks so much for your support and encouraging words… It's incredible how helpful it is to be on the site and talk to other women who have been through this, nobody quite understands it as we do.

And you're right, I should be thankful that I have radiation as an option... and grateful that I found the small cyst when I did and it didn't progress to anything invasive. Thankful and grateful seem like crazy words to feel right now, I could think of a few choice other words, ha!! but I am going to try to focus on thankful and grateful … Since I just found out yesterday I'm still angry and sad and shocked, you know the drill

Of course my concern is how it's going to affect the implant because I've heard that it can cause problems ...however I will cross that bridge if and when I come to it. My radiation oncologist is one of the best and he said we will take it slow with radiation so it will not affect my implant.

Hugs back atcha