What is Ductal Carcinoma in Situ?

Ductal carcinoma in situ is an early form of breast cancer where cancer cells line the milk ducts in one or both breasts. Milk ducts are tubes that carry milk from the breast lobes to the nipples so you can breastfeed. The term "in situ" means the cancer stays in the milk ducts.

The cancer cells in DCIS have not invaded outside the walls of your milk ducts. Doctors sometimes call this non-invasive or pre-invasive breast cancer. Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) generally does not metastasize or spread to other organs like more aggressive or invasive cancers do.

While DCIS itself remains contained within the breast, it can sometimes progress to invasive ductal carcinoma. This kind can spread outside your breast, making it crucial to have a health professional discuss some form of treatment options that would significantly reduce such possibilities.

What are the symptoms of Ductal carcinoma in situ?

Ductal carcinoma in situ usually does not cause symptoms. But some people with DCIS may notice itchy skin, a lump in the breast, or fluid coming from the nipple (sometimes with blood).

What causes ductal carcinoma in situ?

DCIS happens when healthy cells in your milk duct change and start to grow out of control. However, experts do not know why these changes happen or why DCIS spreads in some people but not others.

How is ductal carcinoma in situ diagnosed?

Doctors find over 90% of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) cases during mammograms. If your mammogram looks unusual, a biopsy will be done.

• Mammogram: Besides regular screening mammograms, your doctor may suggest a diagnostic mammogram. This test gives more detailed pictures of your breast and takes longer than a regular mammogram.
• Breast biopsy: This test is done by doctors to check if there are cancer cells in your breast.

Degrees of DCIS

Healthcare providers divide DCIS into three degrees:

• Low (slow growing): The cancer cells look a lot like normal healthy breast cells.
• Intermediate (fast-growing): The abnormal cells look somewhat like normal healthy breast cells.
• High (growing quickly): The cancer cells look very different from normal breast cells.

Stages of DCIS

Ductal carcinoma in situ is a very treatable and curable stage 0 breast cancer. Doctors rate cancer from stage 0 to stage 4. DCIS is always stage 0, but the tumor can be different sizes and may be in more than one milk duct in your breast.

How is ductal carcinoma in situ treated?

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is not a fast-growing cancer, but it is still important to get treatment or have your condition watched closely by a doctor. Some types of DCIS can turn into invasive cancer if not treated, which means the cancer could spread beyond the milk ducts into nearby breast tissue.

The most common treatments for DCIS are breast-conserving surgery (lumpectomy) followed by radiation, or a mastectomy.

• Breast-conserving surgery, or lumpectomy, removes all the cancer cells and some healthy breast tissue around the cancer. Taking out a small amount of healthy tissue around the tumor helps make sure no abnormal cells are left. Your doctor will try to keep as much of your breast as possible.
• Radiation therapy is typically administered after breast-conserving surgery (BCS). This treatment may last for just a few days or extend for several weeks. Your doctor will provide more information about your specific treatment plan.
• A mastectomy means removing the whole breast, or both breasts if it is a double mastectomy. You may need a mastectomy if breast-conserving surgery is not right for you. This may be needed if the cancer is in many milk ducts or if the tumor is very large.

You may be able to have breast reconstruction if you have had a mastectomy. If you have breast-conserving surgery, you probably will not need breast reconstruction. Talk to your doctor about how you want your breasts or chest to look after treatment.

What happens after DCIS surgery?

After surgery, your doctor may suggest medicine to keep DCIS from coming back. The most common medicines are tamoxifen (Nolvadex®) and aromatase inhibitors (like anastrozole). This treatment is called hormone therapy. The whole treatment lasts for five years.

Can ductal carcinoma in situ be prevented?

Most risk factors for DCIS cannot be avoided. Still, your chances of curing DCIS are better if you find it early. In general, people assigned female at birth should get their first yearly mammogram at age 40.

Discuss with your provider how frequently you need a mammogram considering your risk factors.

What is the risk of DCIS?

Factors that may increase your risk of developing ductal carcinoma in situ include:

• A family history of breast cancer.
• History of breast cancer or atypical hyperplasia.
• Being born female.
• Being over age 30.
• Early age at first period (before age 12).
• Having a baby after age 30.
• Having dense breast tissue.
• Having genetic mutations associated with an increased risk of cancer (BRCA 1 and BRCA 2).
• Having had radiation therapy to the breasts or chest area.
• Never having been pregnant or breastfed.
• Entering menopause after 55 can be important. It’s essential to understand that having a risk factor doesn’t mean you will develop ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). For example, a family history of breast cancer is a risk factor for DCIS, but many people with this condition do not have relatives with breast cancer. Risk factors show what might increase your chances of developing a condition.

What are the complications of ductal carcinoma in situ?

Ductal carcinoma in situ can turn into invasive ductal carcinoma if it is not treated. So, if you think you might have DCIS, get help as soon as you can.

If you have already undergone treatment for DCIS, you are likely to face other health conditions as you become older. Some of these include osteoporosis, high blood pressure and heart diseases. You are advised on the number of times for check-ups and revisions by your doctor.

How long do people with DCIS live?

DCIS survival rates are outstanding. The American Cancer Society states that nearly all patients with ductal carcinoma in situ can be effectively treated and cured.

For those who undergo treatment, results are typically very good. DCIS rarely comes back (recurrence). Even in cases where DCIS does recur, the cancer is not dangerous.

Living With

How will I take care of myself?

If you have Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS), plan to see your healthcare provider for a physical exam every six to twelve months for the first five years after treatment. After that, you should have an annual check-up. You will also need to have a mammogram every year.

Remember, everyone’s situation is different. Work with your healthcare provider to create a personalized care plan after your treatment.

Why choose Tender Palm Super-Speciality Hospital for Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS) treatment in Lucknow, India?

Tender Palm Super-Speciality Hospital offers advanced Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS) treatment in Lucknow, India, at an affordable cost. We have a team of experienced oncologists and breast cancer specialists, known as some of the best doctors for early-stage breast cancer care. We provide accurate diagnosis with advanced imaging and biopsy tests, personalized treatment including breast-conserving surgery, radiation therapy, and hormone therapy when required. Our team has decades of experience in successfully treating Ductal Carcinoma In Situ in Lucknow, India.

To seek an Expert Consultation for Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS) treatment in Lucknow, India:

Call us at +91-9076972161
Email at care@tenderpalm.com

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