How fast does DCIS spread?

All of us have slightly different results. Mine was 5cm and yes, it grew very fast like yours. I was Grade 2-ER+/PR- /HER2- to start. To get the margins around the tumor in your breast is what may move it from a lumpectomy to a mastectomy. For me, I was not large breasted and i would be very disfigured with the lumpectomy. Plus, I had a genetic test one month later that said i had Brca2. More people will post their story. Take care of yourself.

I was also told I need to have a mastectomy for 5 cm in my right breast. I then found out I had it on both sides. They told me I could do a lumpectomy on my left but opted for double. I'm glad I did because they discovered the cancer in my left was aggressive. I was able to do reconstructive surgery and I'm very content with my choice.

How long ago?

Do you have dense breasts? DCIS is hard to find with dense breasts. Did any of your previous mammo mention calcifications? I had 2 previous mammos from a few years ago and report was "normal", although it did mention calcifications. I did not realize this until my dx and I requested previous copies. SO, in my case, 2017 was clear, 2018 and 2021 showed calcifications and 2024 found high grade HR+ DCIS (I skipped mammos in

I have very dense breasts. For the past eight years I've had one mammo a year and one MRI a year (alternating at 6 month intervals) and I almost always have calcifications; they have said they compare them from year to year and as long as they haven't changed they don't worry about it. These calcifications were new plus in the suspicious linear/branching formation. In retrospect, I guess I thought the 6 month check-ups would catch anything in the early stages, so that's why I was so surprised I would have a 5 cm area develop within that time span.

As I understand it, everything is in the ducts, but they can't just remove the ducts (there's some research for the microsurgery, robotic field!) so have to remove all the tissue that encompass the various branches.

Hi - I also had 5cm+ DCIS hormone negative with grade 3 diagnosis - we had originally discussed lumpectomy when mammogram showed up as 1.5cm - but true extent came to light on MRI. My surgeon put the MRI imaging up on the screen and I could the area light up was about 40% of my left breast so a lumptecomy was just not possible. I could have opted for a partial Mastecomy but I did not want to be left with half a breast - I opted for DXM and am happy with my decision - also has reconstruction and fat grafting - everything has healed really well and zero pain or discomfort. They will never be the same as before with loss of feeling etc but this was best decision for me and my reconstructed breasts do look great. Hope this helps.

I had a suspicious area in my rt breast that warranted a MRI. It turned out to be calcifications but the MRI showed something in my left breast that turned out being Invasive Lobular Carcinoma. Although I wanted a dmx I was coaxed into a lumpectomy. I caved because I wanted this cancer out of my body asap. Surgery was 8/21/23. I also had several areas in both breasts that warranted 6 month checkups. I found another surgeon who was willing to and believed a DMX was warranted. My DMX was 2/1/24. My mother had a lumpectomy in 2007, one breast removed in 2010 and the other in 2014--all from breast cancer. I wanted 1 and done. I'm so fortunate that I pushed for a DMX. Pathology confirmed my breasts had many precancerous areas and that my left breast had ILC in situ. I had fibrous dense breasts. I chose to have a goldilocks masectomy. This is where they use your excess fat and skin to make breasts after they remove your breasts. Mine are small. The right looks good. The left didn't turn out good. The scar tissue from the lumpectomy caused dents most likely from scar tissue. If you are high risk I'd research DMX. Why go through the worry and chance of another cancer. They kept telling me "this cancer" has a low chance of returning with a lumpectomy. I wasn't worried about this cancer. I was worried about future cancers. My worries proved I was on the same path as my mother. 10 years after her last masectomy she's been cancer free. She refused radiation and AI for all 3 of her cancers. If you have any thoughts about having a DMX my radiologist discourages radiation. Reconstruction is harder to accomplish after radiation. I am taking AI. My mother and I were both in our 60s. If I were younger I probably would have wanted to keep my breasts too. I'm so so happy with my decision!

Is radiation mandatory after lumpectomy for low grade stage 0 DCIS?

Have anyone opted for local or regional anesthesia as opposed to general for lumpectomy for DCIS? Mine is 4mm in size.

Yes I had IVCS (IV Conscious Sedation) because I could not have general anesthesia due to history of Malignant Hyperthermia. It was fine. Some hospitals will not offer IVCS but they will use a different type of general anesthesia if MH is a concern.
MGH will, BWH will not. Ultimately it’s up to surgeon and anesthesiologist.