Mixed Recurrence Outcomes When Radiation Is Added to Excision for DCIS

[Becky]

Dear Hopeful

This was a great article, especially for me since I had an unradiated but surgically removed dcis 81 months ago. I had always been concerned about not getting radiation since radiation decreased the recurrence rate. This article puts my mind more at ease since I am so far out at this point.

Some thoughts are that radiation may cause other breast cell changes that cause this phenomenon or that some low grade dcis (like mine was) just don't really respond to the radiation and those cells change due to the radiation. Perhaps low grade dcis that is unradiated but a cell or more are left behind are actually taken care of by the body - we have read articles here on this site that some dcis just disappear without treatment (I think it was a study done in the Netherlands). After all, radiation does cause cancer - please don't misconstrue that one should not get radiation, it is a life saving treatment. I guess the bottom line is that more needs to be learned about what treatment each tumor or dcis really needs. We have all debated this same question with chemotherapy or Herceptin therapy and now the same question is true for dcis radiation therapy as well.

As Jean says, everyday we are a little bit closer. Thanks for posting this Hopeful as it personally pertained to me.

[Hopeful]

Becky,

You were the first person I thought about when I read it, as I know how upset you were at not receiving radiation for that DCIS. I had hoped you might gain some comfort from reading it. I also very much appreciate your analysis and perspective. Thanks for your response.

Hopeful