DCIS Grade 2 Diagnosis
Hi all, this is my first time posting here and am so grateful that this forum exists. My wife has had an incredibly stressful few months to say the least. In September she went in for her yearly mammogram and a suspicious area was identified in her right breast. She subsequently had an ultrasound, biopsies and MRI and was told it could be adenosis or DCIS. She underwent a lumpectomy November 2024 and pathology results confirmed Grade 2 DCIS which measured 15mm and had 5mm clear margins. It was also noted to be ER-. Common protocol where we live sounds like radiation as a likely next step but we are still waiting to meet with the radiation oncologist. My wife is risk adverse and is not keen on potential years of follow up so has scheduled a bi-lateral masectomy for January 31st 2025 with reconstruction. My wife’s mom also passed from BC in 2010 so there is a family history. I guess my question is there a benefit from doing a bi lateral masectomy over radiation treatment for this type of diagnosis? Curious if others have been in a similar position and outcomes for them. Thank you so much!
-S
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Welcome SPN1977:
Glad you found this site. “Benefits” is a subjective term. If it benefits your wife to bring peace of mind, to prevent ongoing mammograms and associative anxiety and avoid potential side effects of radiation, then, yes there is a benefit. Does it improve her odds of survival long term, then no. Survival is almost a given regardless which procedure she chooses, so I would think her peace of mind is most crucial for the years ahead. Please support her decision.
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Hi @spn1977, I’m sorry about your wife’s diagnosis. Statistically the rate of recurrence for DCIS is a bit higher for a lumpectomy with radiation than a mastectomy (6.5% vs 1.5%) but the overall survival for both procedures is the same. Which surgery is best comes down to a personal decision. Your wife’s wish to avoid the yearly stress of mammograms and her concern about her family history indicates that her choice is the right one for her. I hope her surgery goes well. All the best.
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Has she had genetic testing?
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Thank you Tb90 and Maggie 15. I will absolutely support any decision she makes. She has not yet had genetic testing but has requested this from our cancer agency.
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