DCIS

Public Archive
1

Hi everyone would like some help,deciding if to have chemo or not. Is anyone in
in the same boat?

2

Hi, Have they offered you Chemo for DCIS? I always thought it would be Radiotherapy.

3

Hi, what sort of chemo is it? I too only thought it was radiotherapy and in some cases, endocrine treatment such as tamoxifen? I have dcis and have only been offered radiotherapy. I asked about tamoxifen and told not neccessary?

Cathy

4

I had DCIS but it was grade 3 and invasive so after my mast and recon I had EC chemo, followed by rads then herceptin.
My onc told me this was the best course to take with me being her2+.
Finished treatment last December so only on tamox now.
Honestly I would take anything they give me to prevent it coming back.

5

Hi have you been offered anything other than Chemo?
I was diog with DCIS after having my milk ducts removed, they offered me two choices either nipple removed or full mast, at the time I was 36 so I opted for nipple removal on the understanding if not a clear enough margin I would have to have full mast. In May 07 I had a skin sparing mast with a temp water implant then went onto having a silicone implant Dec 07. After having got my results it was all clear but needed no follow up treatment.

Amanda

6

Hello,
I just wanted to clarify a few things in this thread. As some of you have said chemotherapy is not given for a diagnosis of DCIS. DCIS stands or Ductal Carcinoma Insitu, this means that the cancer has not spread out of the duct.
Surgery is the first treatment offered for DCIS, and as additional treatment some people will be offered radiotherapy or hormone therapy to reduce the chance of the DCIS re-occurring.

Chemotherapy is given as a systemic treatment, meaning it goes around the whole body, in the instance of DCIS, chemotherapy is felt to be over treatment. However, it is not uncommon for DCIS to be present when an invasive cancer has been diagnosed, and it is often noted on a persons pathology report. Chemotherapy may then be considered as part of the individual treatment plan.

I would suggest that if you are not sure why a treatment has been offered to you then contacting your breast care nurse in the first instance to discuss this as she will have access to your medical notes and will be able to talk you thorough your treatment options. She will also be able to arrange for you to talk with your cancer specialist
again if this is best for you.

BW’s
Tara
Clinical Nurse specialist

7

Hi

I would just like to add to the Nurse Specialist’s comments. I think the most confusing aspect of DCIS is that it has the word carcinoma in it. This automatically and understandably makes people think of invasive cancer. I have DCIS and was told by my consultant that it is a precancerous condition, not cancer. That is, it has the potential to become cancer (and this is not definite in all cases) and therefore needs to be treated usually by surgery to remove it. I was offered radiotherapy as I understood it, as a type of insurance, to make sure all the dodgy cells were killed off. The reason cancer kills is because it gets into the system and starts growing in other parts of the body. This is not the case with DCIS, it is not spread therefore no nodes are taken and no chemo given. The cure rate for DCIS is brilliant and even if it does return, it can be removed again. It is very different from invasive cancer.

TF

8

Hi Toothfairy, what surgery did you have? WLE or Mastectomy?

9

Hi

I had a wle - got it all out first go and start radiotherapy next week- what about you?

10

I had a WLE for LCIS in 2006. Now have DCIS as diagnosed by a 2nd WLE and they’re recommending a Mastectomy!!! Am scared to death.

11

Hi thetrumumshow

How are you feeling today?..i have spoken to my breast nurse about the mastectomy dont feel quite so bad still scared buy due to see plastic surgeon have you had that second opinion appointment yet?

take care

Liz x

12

Hi there, No still not had the appointment, some mix up with getting my mammograms and pathology slides to Bart’s. I phoned them this morning and I wasn’t due to be discussed at today’s MDT so I suppose I won’t get my appointment until next week now. It’s all so frustrating and time consuming. I think I’m coming down on the sude of opting for Immediate Reconstrction with DIEP flap. It’s all worse as I’m a Nurse and remember as a Student Nurse the 1st stitches I ever removed were from a Mastectomy lady.

13

Hi trumumshow,

its nice to find you again!

dont worry about stitches,mine were all invisible and dissolvable thank god!

i cant believe that you are still waiting for your second opinion,thats terrible,do you work at that hospital?

zsazsa

14

it is a waiting game every step for many and thats the worst of it

Liz x

15

Hi trumumshow,

When I had my stiches out after my mastectomy i didn’t feel it as the area is numb, and they sometimes came off with the tape. Try not to worry.
Take care
Amanda

16

hi to everyone
only just found this website, had dcis in nov 2006, had wle left breast,tumour was 2cm, clear margins,no node involvment,rads,tamoxifen and zoladex every 4 weeks,im a year and 4 months out,and doin fine,was offered chemo because of my age and grade of tumour which was 3,didnt have the chemo but to this day still wonder if i should have had it,we all get choices and i think i made the right choice for me,but wish they would have just said your havin that,that and that,im doin a sky dive this sunday to raise money for breast cancer care i just wanted to put something back and help others,

17

Hi Katie

Good luck with you ski dive on sunday.

Amanda

18

Hi Zsazsa, STILL not had my 2nd opinion!!! I’m not working at the mo, Bart’s was offered to me as the place to go for a 2nd opinion by the Royal Marsden who say they’ve sent everything Bart’s need. When I phone Bart’s they say they’re still waiting on stuff… I can’t seem to get a straight answer form anyone. Here it is April 11th, no sign of an appointment and I have an appointment on the 22nd back at the Royal Marsden to tell them what my decision is based in the 2nd opinion!! I COULD SCREAM!!! Sorry, just had to get that out of my system.

19

thanks amanda

20

Hi Trumum,
so sorry i havnt been on here all week! i cant believe you are still waiting.thats disgusting.

Do you have to make your decision on 22nd? i dont blame you for wanting to scream so would i or worse.

hope your ok,will look on here again tomorrow,
take care,

zsazsa