About 25% of all newly diagnosed breast cancer is DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ). It's frequently called Stage 0 breast cancer. Controversy surrounds DCIS. Should it be called a cancer? Is it over diagnosed? Is it over treated? Current clinical trial research is trying to find the answers to some or all of these questions.
Here is a link to an article that talks about the ongoing research that hopes to answer these and other issues surrounding DCIS. These trials include COMET, LORD and LORIS.
I had DCIS two areas in left breast with mastectomy and five be yrs Tamoxifen after. I would not opt to not treat as I have read breast cancer returned in some cases.
How often does DCIS become invasive? or to put it another way, how often does invasive breast cancer start with DCIS? Since it was scattered throughout my breast, i allowed the oncologist to remove the whole breast for my peace of mind. Margins and lymph nodes were clear, so no chemo or radiation treatment, just close monitoring of the other breast.
Studies have shown 70-80% of DCIS may never become invasive breast cancer even when DCIS is left untreated. But since it is not known which DCIS will become invasive, all DCIS is treated similarly. Frequently when DCIS is multi-focal, mastectomy is the standard of care.
There is a clinical trial is that currently taking place to help better understand DCIS. It is the COMET Study. The COMET Study will provide information to better understand low-risk DCIS. In particular, it will provide information on the trade-offs between immediate standard treatment (surgery and possibly radiation) and active surveillance. This will help determine if more patients are able to avoid aggressive ‘cancer’ treatments and their potential side effects. It will also help to personalize treatment choices. These choices may better reflect individual values and preferences. Currently, all women diagnosed with DCIS are treated as if they have invasive breast cancer. The hope is that the COMET Study will show that active surveillance is equally as safe and effective as surgery for women with low-risk DCIS.
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Just had news of DCIS diagnosis. 
Recently diagnosed with DCIS 
Hormonal therapy ?
New to DCIS
It's back... ugh...I'm in the 6%
