Right breast cancer DCIS: Is 4-5 weeks of radiation normal protocol?

I also have DCIS stage 0 but both estrogen and progesterone positive Grade2. Very small 7mm. Having lumpectomy soon. After will do 5 days of radiation and either Tamoxifrn or Aromatase inhibitor for 5 years. I’m opting for only radiation, hoping it’s right decision. Opinions anyone ?

Just diagnosed with DCIS grade 3 stage 0. I refuse to do the hormone drugs. Has anyone just had lumpectomy, or lumpectomy w/ radiation or just said take it all out with mastectomy? Wondering Bout reconstruction immediately as well….Thanks…I’m a mess, can’t sleep at night!

I am facing same…I’ve only heard horrible things about Aromatase and know from very good friend about the bad effects of tamoxifen. I won’t do it. Wondering who else is just having lumpectomy or mastectomy. My neighbor did mastectomy as she is a little person and can’t tolerate radiation or drugs because of her already brittle bones.

I had DCIS stage 0 as well in my right breast. I’m heavy chested. Opted for lumpectomy and 31 radiation treatments, 24 over the entire breast and 5 focused on the incision.

I had stage 0, lumpectemy and radiation. Will not do hormone therapy due to chance of stroke, blood clots, bone issies and want quality of life. Look at the studies and you will see it is hard to get data due to most people not completing the treatments due to side effects. Also look at % of survivors who just do lumpectomy and radiation vs adding hormine therapy. To me, not worth risks.

Hi,

I too was just diagnosed with DCIS grade 3. Haven't met with surgeon or oncologist. Are you considering mastectomy? If a mastectomy is chosen, do you need radiation and hormone therapy?

I had a similar presentation and was told to have 33 radiation treatments, which I did.
However, 2 days before they were to start (May, 2022) Iowa City University Hospitals and Clinics told me that, if I had had my surgery there, they would not have radiated me at all. When I asked why, they said it was because I am a woman in my 70s (76 then). I couldn't tolerate the A.I. pills or Tamoxifen, so I am hoping that the 33 radiation treatments were sufficient to protect me from a recurrence.

Interested…I am lumpectomy candidate but I will not take the AI therapy.

At 64 years old I was Stage 1, Grade 1, oncotype 13 IDC lumpectomy of left breast with clear margins and three clean lymph nodes.
I took extra radiation (16 regular plus 4 Boosts) in order to have options about taking the A.I. Letrozole.
Still not sure - I have one more week to decide before I am supposed to start taking it on 04/01/2024.
Surgery was 12/7/2023 and final radiation was on 03/01/2024.

I have had difficulty finding information about recurrence rates for lumpectomy with radiation only.
This video, however, is a great discussion:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdKIF28C1xg

Also . . . the cancer I had is >90% ER+ HER2 neg.

Was on HRT prior to cancer diagnosis last September and immediately stopped. After six months without HRT,
already I dislike the effects on the genitourinary tract, not to mention the upcoming emotional issues, insomnia, heart disease and bone loss. If I am not mistaken, the Doctor above says that the A.I. reduces recurrence by 3 to 5 %. with no effect on mortality rates at ten years. But he also reminds us that these drugs have saved more lives than any other treatment.

3 to 5% sounds insignificant - BUT - a year ago my chance of getting the original breast cancer was only 1.8% and I lost that bet! SO, 3 to 5% isn't bad until you are in that 3 to 5%.

Worth mentioning: my surgeon told me that women who do not have issues with aromatase inhibitors do not write in to message boards. 🙂 In addition, I have 2 friends who have had no side effects from the medications.