LCIS - help me make it make sense

Posted by ladylorelei @ladylorelei, Feb 27 8:12pm

ER and PR+ LCIS and ALH from core needle mri guided biopsy. Discovered on mri. Very dense breast tissue. Family history of Ovarian cancer. 54, no history of BC. Everything points to watch and wait. “It’s not cancer” “ it’s hard to detect” but “watch and wait” and, oh, by the way, radiation and hormone blockers “just to be safe”. Ugh. If it’s not really cancer, and I shouldn’t be worried, just monitor closely, but yet it’s hard to detect, why the risks of radiation and hormone blockers? Why not just remove my breasts and worry less? Please help me make it make sense! If it’s hard to detect, why am I watching and waiting. If it’s not cancer and likely won’t become cancer, why shitty radiation and hormone blockers?!

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Breast Cancer Support Group.

Chris, Volunteer Mentor | @auntieoakley | Feb 28 9:33am

Hopefully this Mayo Clinic article can clear things up for you.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/lobular-carcinoma-in-situ/symptoms-causes/syc-20374529
If you search LCIS on connect, you will find that many of the members with this diagnosis are making treatment decisions.
Watch and wait isn’t what I would call the active treatment of radiation and hormone blockers. Watch and wait usually refers to increased monitoring only. Maybe these were the choices you had? Could it be watch and wait, or active treatment?

Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Mar 9 10:23pm

@ladylorelei, I can see why you're confused, scared and mad. It sounds like you have more questions than answers at this point. I'm tagging fellow members like @hobo @annie291 @meg55 have experience with LCIS and ALH and may be able to share some insights.

I can understand your reaction of just wanting to remove your breasts. And that may be a prophylactic option for you. I would start by asking more questions to have confidence in your care. Here's some of the questions I would ask:
- Is prophylactic mastectomy a recommended option for me? Why or why not?
- What are the risk factors of developing breast cancer with and without treatment like radiation or hormone therapy?
- How does treatment reduce my risk factors?
- If I chose watch and wait, what indicators should I watch for? When might I need treatment?

@ladylorelei, do you have a follow up appointment soon to ask more questions?

lesliesl | @lesliesl | 2 days ago

Same here. My first doctor recommended mastectomy. Second option doctor said hormone therapy and watch and wait. After 2 weeks I decided I had watched and waited long enough. I am scheduled for surgery the 30th . I have cancer everywhere in my immediate family. I have taken care of so many of them. I do not want the worry of putting my family through that.

lizs0904 | @lizs0904 | 1 day ago

I was diagnosed with LCIS in 2023 and my first reaction was “cut them off”, but the surgeon strongly discouraged and instead meds (Raloxifene) and monitoring MRI/Mammo every 6 months. Then in January 2024 diagnosed with DCIS right side, had lumpectomy and 15 days radiation and new med (Anastrozole). Then January 2025 diagnosed with IDC left side, same treatment as DCIS lumpectomy, 15 days radiation and new Med (Letrozole). In retrospect, I do agree with my Dr. as the last 2 years while not fun, were much less invasive than bilateral mastectomy. The plan is still to monitor every 6 months, but if anything new pops up net year, I’m going back to my original thought of mastectomy. You can ask about Oncotype Score which further helps to assess your risk. I hope this helps