What happens if a mammogram leads to the detection of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)?
Over the past 30 years, improvements in mammography have made it possible to detect a larger number of tissue abnormalities, including DCIS. DCIS is a condition in which abnormal cells are confined to the milk ducts of the breast. The cells have not invaded the surrounding breast tissue. DCIS usually does not cause a lump, so it cannot be detected during a clinical breast exam or BSE. However, mammography is able to detect 80 percent of DCIS cases. Some of these cases will eventually develop into invasive breast cancer. It is not possible to predict which cases of DCIS will progress to invasive cancer. Therefore, DCIS usually is removed surgically. In the past, DCIS was often treated with a mastectomy, but breast-conserving therapy (breast-sparing surgery plus radiation therapy) is now standard practice for many women with DCIS. Tamoxifen may also be used. Women who have been diagnosed with DCIS should talk with their doctor to make an informed decision about treatment. • How much does
Related Questions
- What is the difference between invasive ductal carcinoma and ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast and how are they treated?
- What happens if a mammogram leads to the detection of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)?
- What happens if mammography leads to the detection of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)?
