Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is the most common type of non-invasive breast cancer. The cancer starts inside the milk ducts and remains there without spreading. While DCIS is not typically life-threatening, having the disease increases the risk of developing an invasive breast cancer later on, according to Breastcancer.org. There are a few treatment options for this type of cancer, and educating yourself about the differences may help in decision-making.
Lumpectomy and Radiation
A lumpectomy is a surgical procedure that removes the breast lump or suspicious tissue seen on the mammogram and some surrounding tissue as well, according to the DCIS.info website. A lumpectomy is considered "breast-sparing" because it does not require the total removal of the breast. This type of treatment is usually performed in an outpatient setting and is adequate if only one area of the breast is affected and the lesion is very small, if the surgeon is able to remove all of the DCIS, if the mammogram shows no other suspicious tissue and if the woman consents to follow up and surveillance. A lumpectomy is also for patients who are not healthy enough to withstand more extensive surgery.
While lumpectomy alone can be enough to get rid of the disease, the surgery is usually followed up by radiation therapy that will destroy any cancer cells that were potentially left behind. Treatment usually begins within a month after surgery and is performed five days a week for six weeks. Radiation does have some side effects, including swelling, heaviness in the breast, sunburn-like skin changes, fatigue and loss of appetite.
Mastectomy
A mastectomy is the total removal of the affected breast. It is important to know that it is nearly impossible to remove all of the breast tissue, and there is still a chance the cancer could return in that remaining tissue. Only about 5 percent of DCIS sufferers are required to get a mastectomy and survival rates show the combination lumpectomy and radiation treatment works equally as well in those cases.
Hormone Therapy
If the DCIS cells test positively for hormone receptors, a hormonal therapy option becomes available. These treatments block estrogen in the body, which is usually used against invasive breast cancers to stop the growth of the cancer cells. It is being used in DCIS cases occasionally, but the long-term benefits and side effects are still being evaluated, according to the Australian National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Center (NBOCC).
Tags: breast cancer, cancer cells, invasive breast, side effects, suspicious tissue, total removal
