Should DCIS be renamed?

[Heathcliff4]

I'm just curious how you all feel about the debate around renaming DCIS to exclude the word carcinoma? I was diagnosed with both high grade DCIS and IDC, it was the DCIS that was caught on the mammogram, not the IDC (which I found later during a self-exam).

My opinion goes back and forth.

Curious what others think.

Kathryn

[VDC]

I wonder that myself! My own inclination is that we really don't know enough about DCIS to be able to clearly name it. For example,

how long after DCIS is found does it become invasive? If ever? And what percentage become invasive if grades 1 or 2 versus grades 3?

Did you know that most biopsies that are for DCIS or are found to be DCIS upon biopsy don't test for Her2, KI-67 or any other markers at all?

And what should a woman diagnosed with DCIS expect as far as progression is concerned?

Yup, we just don't know enough to make a clear distinction.

[sarah]

Personally I think it should be considered cancer and treated as such. I was DCIS and within 5 years I was metastatic. How few don't progress? I'd like to know that and particularly if it isn't treated like cancer, meaning no Herceptin, no radiation, etc.