Question 1

why does dcis become invasive?

Accepted Answer

Unknown: If we knew the answer to this question, women with dcis would not all need surgery! about 50% of dcis (ductal carcinoma in situ), if left untreated, will go on to become invasive cancer.  Certain genes in the dcis cells get "turned on", making them invasive, but we don't know what makes this switch happen.

Question 2

how does dcis become harmfully invasive?

Accepted Answer

Spread: Dcis, if left untreated, has the potential to grow outside the duct and invade the suporting tissue that surrounds the ducts in the breast.  The lymphatics and blood vessels are found within this supportive tissue;  invasive cancer has the ability to enter into these vessels and travel outside the breast to other organs in the body.

Question 3

i was dx with invasive dcis pr+er+ her2 - stage 1 dr is recommending mastectomy is that correct?

Accepted Answer

Invasive dcis: From the sounds of your biopsy result, your lesion sounds very aggressive.  Hence I would agree with the mastectomy along with arimidex or tamoxifen and Herceptin.  If your biopsy weren't so aggressive, I would have said otherwise.

Question 4

i had 1mm of invasive dcis  and had lumpectomy, mastectomy and 13 nodes removed, tamoxifen. high estrodial, then bi.ooph & arimidex (anastrozole) is it excessive?

Accepted Answer

NO : Lots of information missing , the results of the tests. If I have to guess had initial lumpectomy  , later mastectomy was done most likely due to  recurrence , ovaries removed to control skeletal metastasis, if it is true it is usual correct pathway to control aggressive tumor in 53 yr old , not true provide additional info, speak to oncologist , good luck   if all neg , seek ii nd opinion.

Question 5

dx w/ invasive ductal carcinoma er + & pr +. grade 2.  waiting on dcis.  meeting w/ two oncologists & surgeon. what do i ask??

Accepted Answer

Depends  tumor size: If tumor small and was non  palpable but only defined on mammogram, if lesion with intraductal components smaller than 1 cm, and sentinel node bx neg. I would wait to hear about margins.  Margins that are adequate about 1cm around lesion suggests lesion in high 90% cure without RT.  If larger lesion then possibly RT and tamoxifen.

Question 6

why is it that some women have to have mastectomy for dcis if it's a non invasive cancer?

Accepted Answer

You are right: Ordinarily, mastectomy is not necessary for precisely the reasons you have mentioned. So the standard treatment is excision of the dcis followed by radiotherapy to the affected breast. The only exception may be, if there are multiple dcis lesions in one breast....So unless you have this type of dcis, you do not need a mastectomy.

Question 7

mri biopsy was done and showed dcis. histopathology showed invasive ductal  with 2.5 mm microinvasion (grade 2). er-pr negative, her +ve (+3). my ques?

Accepted Answer

I&#x27;m not sure: of the question.  It is not unusual for an image-guided needle biopsy DCIS to be &#x27;upgraded&#x27; to an invasive cancer at surgery.  The needle biopsy randomly samples small areas of the lesion, whereas following surgery the pathologist has the whole mass to work with.  It is relatively common to have elements of DCIS and invasive components existing in different parts of the same tumor.

Question 8

does dcis usually turn into invasive breast cancer?

Accepted Answer

No: It is estimated that approximately 10-50% of all cases of dcis if left untreated would progress to invasive cancer.  While some subtypes are more aggresive than others, it is hard to predict which are more likely to become invasive;  therefore, our treatment of dcis is geared towards erring on the side of caution and treating all cases as if they could become invasive if left untreated.

Question 9

is tamoxifen needed for dcis that was treated with lumpectomy&radiation? been on it for 2yrs&have bad side effects. sonogram showed endometr thickenin

Accepted Answer

It's risk vs benefit: Tamoxifen drops your risk of developing  a new breast cancer in either breast by 1/2. But the absolute benefit is small.  You are only 22, so your lifetime risk of having a new breast cancer is higher than if you were 50.  Ask your doctor for the numbers (your risk of developing a new breast cancer with or without tamoxifen), and ask about raloxifene, a similar drug. Then make your decision.

Question 10

could invasive ductal carcinoma double in 3.5 weeks? it feels like it has. er+, pr-, her2- also have dcis in same breast. found original lump in oct, thoughts?

Accepted Answer

: Never say never, but no tumor grows that fast. The apparent increase in size may be due inflammation, necrosis and edema.

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Doctor answers about:

Does dcis become invasive if not treated

A member asked:

Why does dcis become invasive?

A member asked:

How does dcis become harmfully invasive?

A member asked:

I was dx with invasive dcis pr+er+ her2 - stage 1 dr is recommending mastectomy is that correct?

A member asked:

I had 1mm of invasive dcis and had lumpectomy, mastectomy and 13 nodes removed, tamoxifen. high estrodial, then bi.ooph & arimidex (anastrozole) is it excessive?

A member asked:

Dx w/ invasive ductal carcinoma er + & pr +. grade 2. waiting on dcis. meeting w/ two oncologists & surgeon. what do i ask??

A member asked:

Why is it that some women have to have mastectomy for dcis if it's a non invasive cancer?

A member asked:

Mri biopsy was done and showed dcis. histopathology showed invasive ductal with 2.5 mm microinvasion (grade 2). er-pr negative, her +ve (+3). my ques?

A member asked:

Does dcis usually turn into invasive breast cancer?

A member asked:

Is tamoxifen needed for dcis that was treated with lumpectomy&radiation? been on it for 2yrs&have bad side effects. sonogram showed endometr thickenin

A member asked:

Could invasive ductal carcinoma double in 3.5 weeks? it feels like it has. er+, pr-, her2- also have dcis in same breast. found original lump in oct, thoughts?

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