Why me?

Many factors jointly contribute to developing DCIS. Currently, we cannot know what combination of factors resulted in DCIS development in your body.

Is DCIS the same as invasive breast cancer?

DCIS is not invasive, meaning it usually stays in the breast duct and does not invade the surrounding breast tissue. Having DCIS increases your chances of getting invasive breast cancer in the future, but DCIS itself is not a life-threatening disease.

How much time do I have to decide?

There is no rush. You can take 3-4 weeks to gather information, and talk to doctors, family and friends. It is important that you make a decision that you believe is right for you.

What should I choose?

The right choice is the choice that you believe is right for you.

As you explore this tool, you will notice that each treatment option has pros and cons. Take time to explore the steps involved in each procedure and understand the risks and the side effects of each option. This decision support tool helps you compare the different options and select the option that you believe is right for you.

What do other patients do when diagnosed with DCIS?

Every year, over 60,000 women in the US are told they have DCIS. Most of these women undergo a lumpectomy (breast conserving surgery) or mastectomy (removal of the entire breast). Many also choose radiation treatment after breast conserving surgery. Some women choose to combine their treatment with endocrine therapy.

Currently, about 3 out of 100 women do not undergo immediate surgery or radiation treatment. They choose active monitoring instead. Some of these women also undergo endocrine therapy during active monitoring. The idea of active monitoring is a fairly new treatment for DCIS, and it is possible that the number of women who choose this treatment will grow.

How much do we know about active monitoring for DCIS?

For some women with DCIS, surgery (and radiation treatment) might not lower an already-low risk of developing invasive breast cancer and can cause unpleasant side effects. In other words, doctors are concerned that some women are overtreated.

Currently, three ongoing clinical trials compare outcomes of active monitoring to surgical care in DCIS patients (COMET, LORD, and LORIS).

Additionally, researchers are analyzing data from women with DCIS who were or are on active monitoring. By analyzing this data, they can predict risks for current patients and develop decision support tools such as the one you are using right now.

Do my family members need to be tested?

Currently, we cannot know what combination of factors resulted in DCIS development in your body. Therefore, it is not a current standard of practice to recommend genetic testing to relatives of women who were diagnosed with DCIS.

What are genomic tests of the tumor?

Genomic tests (such as the Oncotype DX Breast DCIS Score®) analyze the activity of genes that can affect how DCIS is likely to behave. These tests are recommended for some patients with DCIS. They help to determine whether a patient could benefit from using more aggressive treatment for DCIS.