I'm hoping someone here can help me! I'm seeing a breast surgeon on the Gold Coast who suspects I have DCIS as I have a painful bleeding duct. I am having an MRI on Thursday as nothing showed in the mammogram (tissue too dense) or ultrasound. The pain I am experiencing is on the outer lateral side of my breast, almost as deep down as my chest wall. My breast surgeon wants to excise the duct regardless of the MRI findings, but only 4cm of duct from the nipple. I am worried that if it is DCIS that the surgery may do two things I am extremely concerned about. 1. It may not remove enough of the duct especially as my pain is so lateral (much further than 4cm from my nipple)! This may result in a negative biopsy of the tissue. 2. She may disturb any cancer that's there and introduce the cells into the healthy tissue of my breast. I asked her if she can please remove the duct in its entirety but she said 4cm is usually enough. What should I do? I'm freaking out enough as it is without having to worry about a bungled surgery and diagnosis.

Have you had a diagnostic mammogram, or just the regular mammogram. I also have dense breast tissue, regular mammogram gave me the all clear, it was an ultrasound that picked up tumor. Next mammogram they had to change all the equipment to do diagnostic one. At my 1st year check up the place where I have my mammogram has a new mchine called tomosynthesis, this machine takes images in slices across the breast, is meant to be more accurate. May be worth checking out if there is one anywhere near you. All the best, but keep asking the questions if you are not satisfied. I remember having breast pain, and was told it was hormonal. Best wishes Viv

I had a digital mammogram; as far as I know a regular one. No-one has ever explained a difference. Nothing showed in the ultrasound either, but the Dr only ordered it for the breast in question, not both. The surgeon says that it's next to useless if she can't make comparisons to the other breast. I'm hoping the MRI will show whatever is going on. I'm finding it really hard to be brave. I don't even have a diagnosis and I'm already freaking. I think I expected her to tell me definitively that it wasn't DCIS rather than tell me it could be. I have never heard of tomosynthesis. I will look it up immediately. The surgeon said there was only 3% increased chance of picking something up with the MRI compared to ultrasound (which showed nothing). What worries me most though is misdiagnosis or spreading cells via this duct removal.

Just looked up difference between screening and diagnostic mammogram. It was diagnostic; requested by a GP because of my symptoms and I got to keep the images.

The tomosynthesis looks interesting. What I read was from 2009 when they were trialling it and they were concerned about the xray dose. Did they manage to get it down?

DCIS and surgery | BCNA Online Network

16 Replies

VivW
Member
11 years ago
You are getting good pre-treatment, I requested an MRI and was made to feel like a hypocondriac, if you read Kerrianne Kennely's story you will see that her surgeon on the way to Theatre decided to do an MRI at the last minute and picked up another tumor that was not detected by mammogram or ultrasound.

All the best

Viv
scorpiowoman
Member
11 years ago
I am starting to feel better about all this. Thanks everyone.
scorpiowoman
Member
11 years ago
I am starting to feel better about all this. Thanks everyone.
scorpiowoman
Member
11 years ago
I am starting to feel better about all this. Thanks everyone.
Polly_Rose
Member
11 years ago
It's great that you seem to be getting things sorted well and clearly having your MRI on day 12 will give them a good chance to work out what is going on. I have been on chemo for 16 weeks and have 9 rounds to go then surgery and radiotherapy. My cancer is Invasive ductal carcinoma but the MRI was able to pick up some small DCIS which was not seen on any other imaging. The reason that I have had to undergo chemo is because my tumour was large and had already spread but yours may not be like this so hang in there and be guided by the medical team looking after you. I hope your results are encouraging and you only need minimal intervention. I know that it is the waiting that is often the hardest part but just try to stay busy and get on here for support if you need. Good luck. Pollyrose
Polly_Rose
Member
11 years ago
Hi Scorpiowoman Like you I had several different types of imaging including mammogram, tammography, ultrasound and now have MRI every 6 weeks as I'm having neoadjuvant chemo at the moment. My doctors have found that the MRI definitely is giving them the best information and infact has picked up some small DCIS that other imaging did not find ( I have IDC). If you are premenopausal I have been told that the MRI is most accurate during days 7 to 10 of your cycle as that is when the tissue is less dense and they can see things easier. Good luck with your tests. I hope you get happy results. Take care Pollyrose
Polly_Rose
Member
11 years ago
Hi Scorpiowoman Like you I had several different types of imaging including mammogram, tammography, ultrasound and now have MRI every 6 weeks as I'm having neoadjuvant chemo at the moment. My doctors have found that the MRI definitely is giving them the best information and infact has picked up some small DCIS that other imaging did not find ( I have IDC). If you are premenopausal I have been told that the MRI is most accurate during days 7 to 10 of your cycle as that is when the tissue is less dense and they can see things easier. Good luck with your tests. I hope you get happy results. Take care Pollyrose
scorpiowoman
Member
11 years ago
Looks like it's only slightly higher than a mammogram when used diagnostically, and slightly less in screening. Will look in to it, thanks.
scorpiowoman
Member
11 years ago
Looks like it's only slightly higher than a mammogram when used diagnostically, and slightly less in screening. Will look in to it, thanks.
scorpiowoman
Member
11 years ago
The tomosynthesis looks interesting. What I read was from 2009 when they were trialling it and they were concerned about the xray dose. Did they manage to get it down?