DCIS breast cancer?

I just finished radiation therapy two months ago after a lumpectomy with what I believe had insufficient margins. Close to the margin, a small amount of DCIS (which I believe was always there) was just biopsied. What is next? I prefer breast conservation, and I understand that I cannot have more radiation.

Thank you for your thoughts.

I am so sorry you are going through this, it always feels like once is enough.
The good news is it is still an early diagnosis, and the earlier the better in cancer of any kind.
There is an active discussion around DCIS. Here is a link to that. I just know you will find support there.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/dcis-breast-cancer/?pg=24

Thank you, Chris!

If you decide to get radiation, and you have a DCIS recurrence, they will suggest a mastectomy. If you do this and want a breast reconstruction, it adds more complication on the radiated tissue. I am only two months after radiation and a biopsy (just last week) shows a recurrence. I am not ready for a mastectomy. I prefer to do breast conservation. I feel like I am starting all over again.

I just finished radiation therapy two months ago following a lumpectomy (Nov. '24) with what I understand had insufficient margins. Close to the margin, a small amount of DCIS (which I believe was always there) was just biopsied. What is next? I prefer breast conservation, and I understand that I cannot have more radiation.

Thank you for your thoughts.

I was in 2020 had stage 1 had lumpectomy and radiation therapy afterwards and put on tamoxifen for 3 years
Always fine had yearly mammograms
This month DCIS is back same breast was told biopsy shows Nuclear Grade
3/3 with Necrosis
Has anyone had this happen

Question: can you tell me how many of you had an NME as the identifier of your DCIS? I read that NME (non-mass enhancement) is a common identifier on mammograms and MRI’s.

Yes. have had 2 lumpectomies with unclear margins. Now contemplating mastectomy to eradicate threat. unilateral vs. bilateral. Open for input.

What is DCISionRT testing?

@colleenyoung -

Well, here I am finally responding after my post radiation second surgery for breast conservation. I am slowly healing - but it will take so much longer this time due to radiation.

First, I would interview surgeons until I found an oncologist surgeon who specializes in DCIS and breast cancer surgery. (This is easier to do if you have a PPO).

Secondly, I would not do radiation until several months after surgery so that the MRI and/or Mammo show a clear picture of what is going on - vs. asumming it is simply post surgical tissue. DCIS is tricky. It can hide. Make sure you connect with your radiation oncologist. Ask them questions, and understand what the risks are. I trusted my my radiation oncologist 100 %. However, I would not have done radiation if I wasn't a high risk/ grade 3.

Most importantly, find a surgeon who communicates with you so that you can build trust and feel secure throughout this journey. The surgeon is everything!