Is DCIS cancer or pre cancer?

DCIS is also called intraductal carcinoma or stage 0 breast cancer. DCIS is a non-invasive or pre-invasive breast cancer. This means the cells that line the ducts have changed to cancer cells but they have not spread through the walls of the ducts into the nearby breast tissue.

What is standard treatment for DCIS?

Standard treatment options for DCIS include: Lumpectomy followed by radiation therapy: This is the most common treatment for DCIS. Lumpectomy is sometimes called breast-conserving treatment because most of the breast is saved. Mastectomy: Mastectomy, or removal of the breast, is recommended in some cases.

What is the treatment for DCIS stage 2?

Treatment of DCIS has a high likelihood of success, in most instances removing the tumor and preventing any recurrence. In most people, treatment options for DCIS include: Breast-conserving surgery (lumpectomy) and radiation therapy. Breast-removing surgery (mastectomy)

How serious is DCIS cancer?

DCIS isn’t life-threatening, but having DCIS can increase the risk of developing an invasive breast cancer later on. When you have had DCIS, you are at higher risk for the cancer coming back or for developing a new breast cancer than a person who has never had breast cancer before.

Can I work during radiation treatment?

Radiation. You should be able to work while receiving radiation treatments. While your radiation schedule will usually be 5 days a week for 5 to 7 weeks, the appointments are generally short. Treatment centers work efficiently so that the process only takes 15 to 30 minutes.

Do all breast cancers start as DCIS?

So DCIS can present in numerous different ways. About 20 percent of all breast cancer, 1 in 5 breast cancers will be a DCIS. And a majority of the time these are what are picked up on a mammogram because it’s the earliest signs of a breast cancer.

Is high grade DCIS serious?

Grade III (high-grade) DCIS People with high-grade DCIS have a higher risk of invasive cancer, either when the DCIS is diagnosed or at some point in the future. They also have an increased risk of the cancer coming back earlier — within the first 5 years rather than after 5 years.

Should you rest after radiation treatment?

Many patients are able to go to work, keep house, and enjoy leisure activities while they are receiving radiation therapy.” Others find that they need more rest than usual and therefore cannot do as much. You should try to do the things you enjoy, as long as you don’t become too tired.

How serious is DCIS?

For instance, exposure to radiation therapy increases the risk of developing secondary cancers in the future, and mastectomy can cause serious health problems as well. Some women with DCIS may be at an increased risk of dying from breast cancer, including those diagnosed at a younger age and African Americans, the study showed.

Does a DCIS diagnosis mean cancer?

DCIS is cancer that starts in a milk duct and has not spread outside the duct. Often called “stage 0,” it’s such an early stage of cancer that some experts believe it’s actually a precancerous condition rather than actual cancer.

Why is DCIS not cancer?

With DCIS, the cancer cells are contained within the milk ducts. Because the cancer cells have not invaded nearby breast tissue, DCIS is not invasive breast cancer. Treatment Although DCIS is not invasive breast cancer, it can sometimes turn into invasive breast cancer.

Can DCIS be left untreated?

If DCIS is left untreated, the cancer cells may develop the ability to spread outside the ducts, into the surrounding breast tissue. This is known as invasive breast cancer. Invasive cancer has the potential to also spread to other parts of the body.