DCIS

I was just diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ in my right breast, cribriforming pattern, modified Black's Nuclear Grade 2 w/associated microcalcifications.  My doctor is suggesting a lumpectomy, radiation and tamoxifen.  What happens if it goes untreated and how long can I go without making a decision on which treatment to undergo?

[sabrena50]

Untreated? Girl, it can spread out of your breast area into the rest of your body! Didn't your doctor discuss theses questions with you? Don't go too long before making a decision. What stage is it? Actually at any stage you should just have the mastectomy done. Why would you go through a lumpectomy?(when the possibility of them taking ALOT of your breast off anyway is high), thru radiation? Because every year, you will worry about it coming back. Ask your OB/GYN about a mastectomy, or another doctor opinions before making any decision. Make sure you have all options and what it means to very high risk possible future problems. Remember they cannot guaranteee ANYTHING!! And a boob is just a boob!! You can live without your boobs!!

[gogogo89]

DCIS is not directly life threatening but about one third of untreated DCIS will become invasive cancer which can be life threatening. Don't let DCIS become invasive cancer! If it's only DCIS, you are in Stage 0. The treatment is for not getting invasive cancer in future.
I was also diagnosed with DCIS in this September. My surgeon told me that 100% curable with lumpectomy followed by radiation therapy if it's only in one small area. After lumpectomy, post surgery biopsy proved that there were no evidences of other invasive cancers or DCIS. She recommended Tamoxifen but didn't push too much.
I considered double mastectomy at the some point after diagnosis, just to get over with it and forget about disease ASAP. I am very sure that I can live without boobs. But I took a chance to save my breast for this time. After lumpectomy followed by radiation therapy, there is only 10-12% of recurrence but most likely it comes back as DCIS again, instead of invasive cancer. If it happens to me, I should be fine with double mastectomy without reconstruction by that time.
Overall survival rate is "HIGH" and pretty much same between mastectomy and lumpectomy plus radiation. So, it's all up to you.
DCIS can be over treated at the same time, it can be under treated, too. You should know your risk and make a decision which makes you more comfortable to live with the risk.

[slm817]

Thanks to both of you for your quick response.  Yes I'm diagnosed as Stage 0 with only a small amount of microcalcifications.  I am scheduled for a second opinion next Wednesday and have done plenty of research through this forum and other sources and am hopefully well educated to know what types of questions to ask.  So, gogogo89 did you decide not to go with Tamoxifen?

[Karen377]

I am new to this forum; however, I've had much experience with breast cancer.  I started out 10 years ago with DCIS.  I opted for a mastectomy after which they told me I was cured without any other form of treatment or medications.  Last year I was diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in the reconstructed breast and in the same spot.  Surgery revealed that I had DCIS and invasive cancer this time around.  Make sure your decision reflects not EVER having to go through this all again.

[gogogo89]

I haven't decided yet on Tamoxifen for potential side effect. I have high cholesterol. My initial consultation with a radiation oncologist is next Tuesday. I probably start radiation therapy from after Thanksgiving for six weeks. I still have time to decide on Tamoxifen until radiation ends.