DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ) is a very early-stage breast cancer where abnormal cells are contained within the milk ducts and have not spread beyond where they first formed. Because of this, DCIS in one breast would not typically cause enlarged lymph nodes in the other breast.
Lymph node involvement generally only Show Full Answer
DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ) is a very early-stage breast cancer where abnormal cells are contained within the milk ducts and have not spread beyond where they first formed. Because of this, DCIS in one breast would not typically cause enlarged lymph nodes in the other breast.
Lymph node involvement generally only becomes a concern if DCIS progresses to invasive breast cancer. At that point, cancer cells could potentially travel through the lymphatic system — but this would most likely affect the lymph nodes closest to the affected breast, not the opposite side. If enlarged lymph nodes are noticed anywhere, it's always worth mentioning to a doctor right away. They can help determine the cause and whether any further testing is needed.
It's also worth knowing that a sentinel lymph node biopsy is sometimes performed during DCIS surgery to check whether any cancer cells have begun to spread to nearby lymph nodes.
May 26
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