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I am trying to decide between a mastectomy and radiation for my ductal carcinoma in situ, how did you decide?

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Topics (Tags):

Stage 0 (DCIS) Breast Cancer Stage 0 (DCIS) Breast Cancer Experiences Radiation Mastectomy

Topics:

Stage 0 (DCIS) Breast Cancer X Stage 0 (DCIS) Breast Cancer Experiences X Radiation X Mastectomy X

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Answers (4)

Elynjacobs (Survivor (2 - 5 years)) - 06 / 08 / 2011

Debbie, same for me, only I was stage one. Surgeon told me that by time he removed all the micro-calcifications, there wouldn't be much left and likely no clear margins, so my only real option was mastectomy.

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member9800 (Survivor (10 - 20 years)) - 06 / 08 / 2011

My surgeon went over the Van Nuys prognostic index with me. You may ask your doctors to go over it with you. They initially thought that a lumpectomy would take care of the DCIS, but found no margins after removing 6 cm's. So I was told I had to have a mastectomy. I have never regretted it. DCIS was everywhere to the chest wall. This was in 2/2002. I did the tissue expander at that time, followed up with silicon implant in 6 months. Happy to answer questions if you want to email me at marisa at burtconsultinginc.com. I was 35 when diagnosed as well.

Peace.
Marisa

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DrAttai (Physician - Surgery - Breast (Verified) ) - 07 / 18 / 2011

DCIS is often more difficult to deal with surgically than invasive cancer, although the prognosis is much better. It generally does not form a lump or mass, and sometimes there are not even any calcifications, so it is often difficult to get an appreciation of just how much disease is present. MRI may not always even be helpful in determining the extent of disease. I often tell my patients that DCIS may not be a threat to your life but it can be a threat to the breast.

However if you have a small focus of DCIS that can be removed with lumpectomy (and a good cosmetic result), it is very reasonable to consider lumpectomy with radiation therapy.

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DebbieWWGN (Survivor (2 - 5 years)) - 06 / 07 / 2011

When I was initially diagnosed with DCIS, I was told I would probably need a lumpectomy and radiation. Later, the breast surgeon recommended a mastectomy. I had a hard time understanding why I needed such a radical procedure. My doctor explained that the micro-calcification fields were extensive - thus a lumpectomy would leave me deformed. Also, the radiologist couldn't say for sure that a lumpectomy would successfully remove all of the micro-calcifications. When I realized that the mastectomy was necessary both for my health and as a means to a more successful reconstruction, I made the decision for mastectomy.

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Latest Activity: 07 / 18 / 2011
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