Dr. Esserman hit the nail on the head. DCIS often NEVER turns into cancer, but we badly need to know whose DCIS will. They need further surgery or treatment; the others don't.
Who wants to keep going through this a second time - or more? Many people just want it over with. I've noticed on some of these websites, medical people seem to opt for mastectomy, often double mastectomy. Why one standard for medical people and another standard for everyone else? Something to think about. Also, antihornonal therapy and radiation carry significant side effects, often permanent and serious. People need to have ALL of the facts and then make their own informed choices.
I had DCIS 22 years ago at 34. I did lumpectomy and radiation, but did not do Tamoxifen because I had hoped to have another child, which I did. But I was just diagnosed with Invasive ductal carcinoma adjacent to the lumpectomy site. Waiting for more testing, but will at least have a single mastectomy. My genetic testing came back negative which is great! My mom was diagnosed with Stage 4 at 72 and died. They didn't do any genetic testing on my DCIS unfortunately .
Every one seems confused one say this needs to be done the others say leave it alone and it leaves patients scared and confused and its time to find a healing none confused non toxic decision.
