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Just diagnosed with DCIS: How do I know what questions to ask?
Breast Cancer | Last Active: Oct 2 4:19pm | Replies (67)Comment receiving replies
DCIS is stage 0 cancer. It is not cancer. It is the presence of abnormal cells in the milk duck (“in situ” means in place). IDC is invasive which means it has moved outside the duct and has spread or is spreading. Doctors seem to be quite aggressive recommending anything from lumpectomy to mastectomy. You have had your biopsy then? Ask what kind of cells are involved. Are the aggressive etc. How large was the area? 5 mm? 10 mm? Was it one small spot, or everywhere. These answers will tell you what - if anything - you should do. I am in the same position except that I have not had the biopsy because I am about to go on Medicare so I’m waiting. Mine is 4 mm. Quite frankly I’m inclined to do nothing and see what my mammogram shows next year.
Replies to "DCIS is stage 0 cancer. It is not cancer. It is the presence of abnormal cells..."
You are absolutely right . It’s a precancer. As my surgeon advised we do not yet know what pushes it to be invasive cancer . They are currently holding clinical trials for DCIS stage 1 and 2 to see if any of those women do become invasive and why. With the new thinking that maybe they have been over aggressive in some of the treatments especially if DCIs stage 1. DCIS 3 does not qualify yet .It’s a definite conversation to have with a care team . Ask questions and never take the first consult .always speak to different breast surgeons if you can . It’s always good to hear different perspectives.
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Hi Mary,
Yes I’ve had my biopsies done. Started with screening mammogram, then they recommended diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound after that. They found 2 masses, about 2mm (one was on the lymph node) and micro calcifications. One of the 2 masses (which I’ve had since my first mammogram back in 2008) still turned out benign. But the 2 new ones - the microcalcifications and lymph node, were suspicious of malignancy so they recommended the biopsy.
I had stereotactic biopsy on the microcalcifications and ultrasound guided biopsy on the lymph node. That was last week Wednesday.
Got the call Friday that same week - the microcalcifications showed positive for breast cancer cells, but the lymph node was benign /normal which is good news and that is why so far they believe it is stage 0. I talked to my primary Dr yesterday and just learned that it is ER+. Will know more on Monday when I talk to the surgeon.