DCIS with micro & Her2Neu +

I have been diagnosed wth DCIS with 1mm of microinvasion in one area only. My cells are high grade 3 comedo necrosis, I'm Her2Neu+, sentinel node negative. I have been told by 2doctos that I should be OK because most DCIS is Her2Neu+ (John Hopkins website sort of confirmed this). CT scan & bone scan normal.  Mydoctrs said that my case is rather unique and  does not fall into most Her2Neu+ cases also that Her2Neu is relevent for invasive cancers not mine. Since I'm ER & PR- my only treament plan is radiation for 6 weeks and be monitored closely. Is there anyone out there that has been in a similar situation?  I'm trying to connect.  Thank YOu.

[Dennis MD]

Hi.
Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS) can be treated by: excision plus radiotherapy, excision alone, or mastectomy.  Systemic therapy in the form of tamoxifen can also be given in hormone receptor positive disease.  There is currently no consensus regarding the optimal treatment of DCIS.
Radiotherapy after surgery in DCIS is done in order to decrease the risk local recurrence.  Numerous studies already support this approach.  Comparing radiotherapy versus no radiotherapy, there is an advantage in decreasing local recurrence, with a risk reduction of about 40-50%.  
Hope this helps.

[HazelLynn]

Hi Liz,

Just wondered how you are doing, as our cases are similar and you posted me a few times.  Have you started the radiation thereapy yet? and how is it going if you have.  I am interested as to how you get on with our cases being so similar and the treatments being so different. I think the differences that we have are that I am HER2 negative and Hormone Positive.

My treatment was - lumpectomy then Mastectomy (because I insisted!) and then Tamoxifen for five years.

I am a bit confused though as to what the doctor said about the Grade - It was written as High Grade with Necrosis - so I thought that was Grade 3 but apparently he told me it was Grade 2, so I need to check on that.

Hope you are doing well and I wish you a very Happy Easter.
Hazel