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How can this be?

Breast Cancer | Last Active: Aug 16, 2023 | Replies (52)

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@windyshores

@whyme2023 was any of the pathology specimen invasive cancer or was it all DCIS? Are you having an Oncotype DCIS done?

The doctor and tumor board would seem to be concerned that your breast density tends to hide cancer on the various imaging, since so much of yours did not show up on mammogram or MRI. Since mammo and MRI are the methods for following up on your DCIS over time, I can see that it might make them nervous. And it might make you nervous over time.

"Treatable" still includes mastectomy. But docs initially thought it was 1cm and 6.5cm is a big change in diagnosis. It has gone from T1 to T3 in staging.
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/325669#tumor-sizes

You might feel better getting a second opinion (I got 4 opinions despite a tumor board recommendation). Keep going until you feel sure. But the recommendation for mastectomy would seem to make sense and a tumor board includes the opinions of several experts. Is your oncologist willing to discuss lumpectomy with radiation instead?

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Replies to "@whyme2023 was any of the pathology specimen invasive cancer or was it all DCIS? Are you..."

At this point, there has been no mention of the change in staging - I had two “spots” removed - initially it was thought to to be one measuring .5 - 1.0cm - the two spots were removed and the increase in size is due to the FULL amount that was removed (6.5cm) the two spots plus the distance between them - one measured 3.5cm and the other 2.2cm
The original plan was lumpectomy, radiation and then hormone blocker or endocrine therapy based on if I’m in menopause or not. I meet with the oncologist on 6/28 and will ask if the approach has changed based on the latest finding. Thanks for your feedback and suggestion.