@billiemoore
Hi - Radiation Oncology was concerned about the margins after my first surgery. So I had an MRI. Because it was so only a month and a 1/2 after surgery, the MRI showed a lot of post surgerical tissue. We were told it was benign tissue, so we went ahead with radiation. Two months after radiation, the follow-up mammogram and biopsy found residual DCIS hiding close to the margins. This is so rare, and I learned that published guidelines suggest that adequate margins for DCIS should be ≥ 2 mm after breast conserving surgery followed by radiotherapy (RT). My margins were less than 2 mm. I found an amazing surgeon at UCLA Health, and yes, I am finally clear. It is taking a long time to heal due to the radiation, but it is worth the wait. I wish you the best of luck and try to remember that you have choices. It is good to get second opinions. It is cumbersome, but it is worth all the effort to find the right surgeon who will work with you. I would not due radiation until you know for sure that all of the DCIS has been removed. You are right, cancer is complex and DCIS is very tricky.