DCIS
hi when u have a mastecomy for DCIS do you need to go on hormone tablets? Do you get the lymph nodes out? I get to see the doctor Thursday still trying to get my head around this. Thank u
Forum Discussion
Hi Lisa Janelle.
They definitely will take a few sentinel nodes during mastectomy.
Unfortunately, you will not know for sure if DCIS has spread outside the ducts until they do the pathology after your mastectomy. That will guide the treatment path. Until then they cannot tell you anything definite about the treatment.
It is a step by step thing so be guided by what the doctors tell you at each stage.
I had a very large, 7cm pure DCIS. I had a right skin sparing mastectomy. I had immediate recon and 2 lymph nodes out.
The nodes were clear. (HOORAY)
I did not need any radiation, or any chemo as cancer cells had not spread out of the breast duct. It was pure DCIS which is stage 0.
I was not prescribed any hormone treatment because even tho my DCIS was very large and Estrogen positive it was stage 0.
I Was in perimenopause, still having periods.
I was told they do not generally prescribe hormone therapy after mastectomy for pure DCIS stage 0 as cancer cells did not spread outside breast duct, and no breast tissue remains after mastectomy so chance of getting recurrence is very low, and chance of getting a new cancer in the other breast is the same as the general population.
They will be doing extra surveillance during the next 5 years, yearly ultrasound, mammograms and MRI in my case. They say the extra surveillance is all that is needed after pure DCIS.
I do not need to have any other treatment just need a nipple recon or tattoo now. All covered under Medicare.
I am in QLD in Public System.
I hope all goes well at the doctor and wish you all the best.
Vicki xx
They definitely will take a few sentinel nodes during mastectomy.
Unfortunately, you will not know for sure if DCIS has spread outside the ducts until they do the pathology after your mastectomy. That will guide the treatment path. Until then they cannot tell you anything definite about the treatment.
It is a step by step thing so be guided by what the doctors tell you at each stage.
I had a very large, 7cm pure DCIS. I had a right skin sparing mastectomy. I had immediate recon and 2 lymph nodes out.
The nodes were clear. (HOORAY)
I did not need any radiation, or any chemo as cancer cells had not spread out of the breast duct. It was pure DCIS which is stage 0.
I was not prescribed any hormone treatment because even tho my DCIS was very large and Estrogen positive it was stage 0.
I Was in perimenopause, still having periods.
I was told they do not generally prescribe hormone therapy after mastectomy for pure DCIS stage 0 as cancer cells did not spread outside breast duct, and no breast tissue remains after mastectomy so chance of getting recurrence is very low, and chance of getting a new cancer in the other breast is the same as the general population.
They will be doing extra surveillance during the next 5 years, yearly ultrasound, mammograms and MRI in my case. They say the extra surveillance is all that is needed after pure DCIS.
I do not need to have any other treatment just need a nipple recon or tattoo now. All covered under Medicare.
I am in QLD in Public System.
I hope all goes well at the doctor and wish you all the best.
Vicki xx