That's an important question, and it's completely understandable to want clarity on what this diagnosis means for the future.
DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ) is a Stage 0, non-invasive breast cancer, meaning the abnormal cells are contained within the milk ducts and haven't spread to surrounding tissue. Generally speaking Show Full Answer
That's an important question, and it's completely understandable to want clarity on what this diagnosis means for the future.
DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ) is a Stage 0, non-invasive breast cancer, meaning the abnormal cells are contained within the milk ducts and haven't spread to surrounding tissue. Generally speaking, the outlook for DCIS is very positive — around 98% of people survive 10 or more years after diagnosis. However, a few factors in this specific situation are worth understanding:
- ER/PR negative means the cancer cells don't have estrogen or progesterone receptors. This means hormone therapies like tamoxifen, which are often used to reduce the risk of recurrence in DCIS, may not be an option.
- Grade 3 means the cells look very different from normal cells and tend to grow more quickly. Higher-grade DCIS carries a somewhat higher risk of recurrence or progressing to invasive cancer.
- Age can also play a role in treatment decisions and overall health considerations.
The good news is that DCIS is still highly treatable, even at Grade 3. Surgery is typically the main treatment, sometimes followed by radiation to reduce recurrence risk.
It's really important to have a detailed conversation with the oncology team, as they can factor in overall health, the tumor's specific characteristics, and personal preferences to map out the best path forward.
June 16
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