RoseDew1951

Dear AWB: The reason I've elected not to use tamoxifen or evista is because the 50% reduced risk equates to the following: the 50% decrease in risk is on the increased risk we with LCIS now have. For instance, the general population has a 12% of BC; with LCIS the risk is now 15% with a 1% increase per year for the next 5 years. The drugs will reduce your increased risk from 1% per year to .5% per year, or 2.5% reduction in 5 years. To me that is a negligible number. I'm not willing to add medication to my body for only a 2.5% reduction in risk. Without the drugs, my risk of developing BC will remain between 20-25% after 5 years, which means I have a 75% to 80% chance of NOT getting cancer. Only time will tell as to if I should have reconsidered. Obviously, there are as many thoughts on this topic as there are people dealing with this condition, but I'm fine with close monitoring and mammos for now.

Anne...I think you are right on! I was diagnosed with LCIS 12/07 and within a few weeks had decided to have PBM. Met with an oncologist and my surgeon and my PCP. Had even made an appointment with PS to discuss alternatives. Then I started thinking that I was overreacting to a condition that MAY happen or MAY NOT! Seems as though the ONC and surgeon thought I should be on tamox or evista (which I will not do) and the PBM was a good choice. Well, after reading everything I could find on this board and doing more research, I've decided to do what you are doing...close monitoring and no drugs. I've changed my eating habits, am exercising more (lost 12 lbs so far) and am I think a very healthy 57 year old. So, as you said, listen to your instincts. If I end up with BC down the road, I'll deal with the problem then. For now, it's life as usual, with a few modifications. And I'm sleeping just fine these days! God speed.

Hello 62192. I was diagnosed with LCIS in December 07 after having a biopsy to determine what was showing up on the mammo. The suspicious area was nothing, but then this LCIS was found. Like you, I was all for mastectomy because I didn't understand what LCIS really meant. I knew it was a precancerous situation, but thought that the LCIS actually turned into cancer. Now that I know it increases my risk for any type of breast cancer I am rethinking my original decision and have decided to forego the surgery. I have also decided against the drugs (tamox or evista) because the possible benefits for me do not outweigh the negatives. Like Leaf said, the increased risk is there, but even after 5 years of not doing any drugs, my risk will stand at 20% (12% is the risk for general pop + 3% increased absolute risk with LCIS + 1% increase per year). On a drug the risk is only reduced by 2.5 percent over a 5 year period. So even without taking a drug, after 5 years you still have an 80% chance of NOT getting breast cancer. Pretty good odds I think. I've never had to take any medication and I am reluctant to begin now. I'm a healthy 57 year old who exercises, am at a healthy weight, am eating better foods, drinking less wine, take vitamins and calcium and use 1 tsp of home-ground flaxseed daily in my cereal at the suggestion of my cancer center's nutritionist. I may still get cancer, but I refuse to be controlled by my condition. This board is a great place to gather lots of information. So keep reading everything you can about LCIS and once you get your brain around the situation, I think you will be able to make wise decisions and gain control of your life. Good luck! Pat

I was diagnosed with LCIS in December; this week I met with a nutritionist at our Cancer Care Center regarding diet and supplements. I am not convinced I want to go on tamoxifen or evista and have put bilateral mastectomy on the back burner. I've decided to exercise more, eat healthier, and add the following to my diet (okayed by the nutritionist): Multiple vitamin daily; Calcium w/vitamin D daily; Omega 3 tablet daily; and home-ground flax seed one tsp daily for the omega and lignan benefits. I've researched this LCIS condition in and out the kazoo; talked to several doctors with differing opinions and have decided to tackle this on my own at the moment. Perhaps in 6 months or so I may try the Evista the surgeon recommended I go on, but if side effects interfere with my quality of life, the drug is history. So for now, it's a positive attitude and more veggies in my life!

Hello Everyone...This is my first visit to this site as I was diagnosed with LCIS in December 07. Digesting everything has been a bit overwhelming but today I met with an onc to discuss tamoxifen and raloxifene as well as PBM. I'm 56, otherwise very healthy and active. My goal is to avoid invasive breast cancer, radiation and chemo at some later date so I'm opting for raloxifene short term with probable PBM in the fall. Lots of happy occasions coming this year so I want to enjoy every minute of them before dealing with this situation head on. I feel that even if I take the drugs for 5 years (which I don't want to do), I will still have LCIS. Later this month I meet with a PS to discuss reconstruction options. Anyone on this site who has chosen my plan of treatment for LCIS or who has words of wisdom? Now that I'm over the shock of it all, I feel quite peaceful and content with my decisions. I feel that it is important for each of us to deal with LCIS in whatever way makes us comfortable, whatever that decision may be.