How fast does DCIS spread?

My DCIS is Stage 0 - Grade 3. The way it was explained to me is Grade 3 is “aggressive” and radiation is part of the program. 3 weeks of radiation was thrown around but I will not know until my appt with the doc. This will happen Aug 26. I’ve been questioning having radiation as well. My lumpectomy per the doc removed the calcifications which were 4cm, she had good margins and no surprises. I’ve been wondering this too and have been chatting with friends who have experienced BC and everyone says “do it” but their BC was more involved, not DCIS which has been explained to me as “pre-cancerous”. Thanks for asking the question, I’m wondering as well.

I had dcis stage 0. But grade 3. I choose to do radiation because of the high grade. It made me nervous to just get a lumpectomy. I know there are side effects with radiation but things could be much worse if cancer returns in the same breast and I was not willing to roll the dice on that one. Everyone has to live with their own decisions and what are they comfortable with. Radiation side effects to me are nearly not as bad as facing chemo one day and possibly loosing both breasts.

Yes, it's the loss of feeling that really bothers me. I know many women are fine with it but it's really playing havoc on my body image and sexual identity.

Curious, though, did you opt for the DXM because you were concerned the two breasts wouldn't match? Or was it a medical decision?

Thanks for your response!

Hi - I asked my surgeons (breast and plastic) why women would choose bilateral mastectomy and they said the number one reason is symmetry followed by risk of another primary cancer in right breast. I personally did not want to be dealing with the worry of another breast cancer given my age and I also didn’t want to have to have 6 month
Scans which may not be accessible when I return to UK/ Ireland. I also consider that if I had one done and not the other they would never be the same and if I had to have the second removed down the line it would be with another surgeon- so in the end I felt my breast has let me down and I don’t want the worry of it coming back in the right one and also for aesthics. It’s not an easy decision - I took 4 weeks between meeting my breast surgeon to OR date to speak and meet other women and figure out what was right for me. My breasts are no longer a part of my sexual identity to be honest - I can’t feel anything but they do look good from a profile perspective and in my clothes etc. there are pros and cons to going bilateral or unilateral so take the time to see what’s right for you. Neither is really ideal and you never walk away with natural breasts but there are amazing reconstructive surgeons out there that will work with you to get to the best outcome - make sure you ask about different shapes and sizes and projection (this is super important) and also get fat grafting - it may be several surgeries before you get to the best result.

I had reg mammo, then back for 3d 6 mos later, they said it had grown, I went 11 years w/o mammo and it grew in 6 months!!?? I found that hard to believe, I feel the 1st reg mammo did not get full pic… just sayin

Mine was stage 0 but grade three. I had to have radiation.

Maybe advised, but not mandatory. YOU get to choose your treatment. Low grade is unlikely. Have you had a DCISion test? Mine was high at 9.2, suggesting I would benefit from having radiation. There is also a site with questions you answer and it will give you a percentage rate of recurrence with or without radiation. Let me see if I can find it.

Here is the link:
https://nomograms.mskcc.org/breast/DuctalCarcinomaInSituRecurrencePage.aspx