Is DCIS Breast Cancer?
This seems to be a hot topic of late.. Appropriate for
August . We know that the use of screening mammograms definitely saves
lives. Its widespread use has led to the
increased diagnosis of so called “ high risk lesions “ in the breast as well as Noninvasive
carcinoma of the breast called Stage 0 ductal carcinoma or DCIS.
DCIS cells in the breast are true cancer cells located
entirely within the milk ducts of the breast. These cells have not traveled
outside the duct and are not invasive. A
woman’s chance of dying from DCIS itself is almost Zero.
BUT.. there is always a but… if left untreated it does have
the potential to become Invasive breast cancer.
It is the most common form of non-invasive breast cancer, found in more
than 60,000 women in the U.S.
each year according to the American Cancer Society.
Because of the risk that DCIS is a forerunner of invasive
disease, treatment is recommended.
Treatment usually includes a lumpectomy, radiation therapy
and possibly Tamoxifen for further prevention. Sometimes mastectomy is advised if the DCIS
is extensive throughout the breast.
The problem with DCIS is that there is no current proven way
to predict which form of DCIS is more aggressive and will go on to develop
invasive cancer.
There is currently ongoing research that we hope will
increase our understanding of DCIS and improve out treatments.
If you have been diagnosed with DCIS bring all your questions to your visit with
your breast surgeon and make sure you have a full understanding of your
diagnosis.
