MOM diagnosed with Duct carcinoma.

[AnsyaJs]

Please let me know the seriousness of Duct carcinoma, we are waiting for biopsy report.

[kaarenorgaard]

Hi there are a range of things that are needed to characterize it (some of it you won't be able to know before the biopsy report):

(1) Is it "Ductinal Carcinoma In Situ" (DCIS)? In which case it is very mild, in that it is localized.

(2) What is the size?

(3) What is the age of your mom?

(4) Any family who has had either breast cancer or ovarian cancer (genetic family of your mom; your father's family doesn't count here) - or anyone who has had a genetic test like BRCA?

(If it isn't DCIS ref #1):

(5) Has it spread to the lymph nodes under the armpit (the axilla)?

(6) Is it localized or are there several lumps or a diffuse limit if it?

(When you get the biopsy results):

(7) Receptors that are positive (normally not investigated for a DCIS):

(7a) Estrogen Receptor (ER) - positive and if so by which percentage?

(7b) Progesterone Receptor (PR) - positive, percentage?

(7c) HER2 (normally the full name is not used: Human Epidermal growth Receptor 2): Is it positive, and here normally it is characterized as 0, 1, 2, 3 with 3 maximum instead of a percentage. 2 is the tipping point for HER2 to be positive (normally calls for another investigation).

(8) There are often other things in the report, but (7) are the most important ones. It is normally regarded best, if there are receptors that are positive, because they can be used as a handle for medicine other than chemo therapy to kill the cancer cells.

If there are no positive receptors, and it is not DCIS, you will need chemo therapy, which is kind of "general purpose".

If there are positive receptors, then:

- If ER+ or PR+, she takes anti-hormone therapy for at least 5 years (which kind of therapy depends on menopausal status)

- If HER2+, she takes Herceptin (or equivalent) for 1 year (these two treatments come on top of each other, if both HER2+ and ER+ or PR+)

- Whether she also has to have chemo therapy (often for 4 months) if there are positive receptors depends on a range of factors, please provide the information requested, if you want my opinion (as a Dane) on that. (If it is HER2+, chemo therapy is always needed). If she has chemo therapy, and she also is ER+ or PR+ and therefore has anti-hormone treatment, then the anti-hormone treatment must await the completion of chemo therapy. Herceptin may have to await a part of the chemo therapy (depending on the drugs included).

The medical treatment may start before surgery in some cases (lump larger than 2 cm in diameter is the usual threshold for that).

Radio therapy comes into play if (1) she has a breast conserving therapy or (2) some of the lymph nodes are involved or (3) if there are other tricky-nesses such as a very large lump or infiltrated.

So there are many things to consider - and the risk is dependent on these many things.

Do come back with more information as you have it. Good luck...

Kaare (from Denmark)

[AnsyaJs in reply to kaarenorgaard]

Thanks for the info Kaare, it's much appreciated. I'll come back with more information after the biopsy report comes.