Is this considered a recurrence?

harrie · 03-20-2009, 12:12 AM

In 1996 I had DCIS in my left breast followed by a lumpectomy and radiation, and then 10 yrs later had stage I invasive DCIS in the same breast, would this be considered a recurrence?

Jackie07 · 03-20-2009, 01:05 AM

MaryAnne,

If it is 'invasive', I believe it is not called a DCIS (in situ) any more. I guess yours would be called IDC. If it is in the exact same location, I guess you had a recurrence. But there are so many years in between and your tumor was found when it was still very small, I really would just take it as if it was a new, more aggressive tumor. Because DCIS is normally not counted as 'cancer', I wouldn't count yours as 'recurrence'.

You've got very aggressive treatment all along, I think your prognosis is excellent. [Wished my doctors had been as thourough

]

I've taken Tamoxifen for just about 5 years now (substracting the surgery and radiation time.) Do you think I should ask the doctor for Arimidex? How did you decide to start with Arimidex instead of Tamoxifen? Why did you stop it just after 1 year? Is Femera more tolerable?

Mary Jo · 03-20-2009, 04:27 AM

Hi Harrie....Kind of the same scenario with me. I had a lumpectomy in 1992 and was told I had "atypical hyperplasia cells." Initially they told me "the pathology lab THINKS they saw cancer growing" but couldn't be conclusive so they sent it away to another lab. That labs conclusion was "atypical hyperplasia cells." Thirteen years later I developed breast cancer in that same area.

Mary Jo

harrie · 03-20-2009, 10:58 AM

Thanks Jackie and MaryJo.

Jackie, if your tumor was ER/PR positive, then I would assume it would be a good idea to be on an AI such as Arimadex or Femara.

Becky · 03-21-2009, 12:24 PM

Hi Harrie

I think it depends - was the pathology vastly different? If it was in the same area, perhaps it was or perhaps it was a new cancer. Its hard to say in your case since you are also BRCA 2+ and have more of a chance of a new cancer but a recurrence also isn't out of the question. Yours is a hard one to answer definitively for sure.

harrie · 03-21-2009, 04:46 PM

Becky, thank you.
The path rpt on the DCIS that I originally had just said nuclear grade interm to high, comedo. That's it. I dont think they cked for HER2 or hormones positivity for DCIS back then. 10 yrs ago I think they took DCIS pretty lightly also.
When I had radiation tx following the lumpectomy, the rad oncologist said my chance of recurrance was like 98% or had less of a chance then the avg woman walking on the street. (course at the time we had no idea I was BRCA2)
I know mine is a tricky situation. Funny, I have always been told that even when I had the DCIS. Was always the "bad news-but good news" kind of person.
Thank you Becky.
Maryanne