DCIS means ductal carcinoma in situ. This means that there is an abnormality in the milk duct cells of the breasts. Carcinoma means a type of cancer that starts from the epithelial cells or lining layer of a particular organ. In the case of DCIS, the organ in question is the breast. Ductal carcinoma in situ is a type of breast cancer, put simply. This is not, however, the type of breast cancer that you are probably more aware of. There is a difference between DCIS and invasive breast cancer.
Difference between DCIS and invasive breast cancer
The main difference between DCIS and invasive breast cancer is in the spreading of the cancer cells. Both cases have the presence of cancer cells confirmed. However, with DCIS, the cancer cells are still in the milk ducts. If you have DCIS, you are still experiencing a mild form of breast cancer. You cannot even die because of DCIS. However, it is not time to relax just because DCIS is a mild form. Instead, you should act immediately before the cancer cells spread to the breast tissues. When this happens, you now already have a full-blown invasive breast cancer. Invasive breast cancer can cause death if not treated promptly.
Risk factors
DCIS can occur in women of any age. However, women in their fifties are more likely to develop the condition. So, you can say that advancing age can increase the risk. Even men can have DCIS though the risk is pretty low, considering that this disease involves the milk ducts. While there are risk factors such as stressful lifestyle, high cholesterol diet and lack of sleep, the definite cause of DCIS is as unclear as the cause of breast cancer in general. Still, it would be best to have enough sleep and rest, to eat the right types of food, drink only a glass of alcohol a day or none, and have regular checkups. The physical examination is really important. Often, DCIS is only diagnosed through mammogram and other examination by a health professional.
Symptoms of DCIS
The problem with DCIS is that you most likely will not feel any lump as with invasive breast cancer. You should not wait to get that lump, however. By that time, it may be already too late. You may have already developed invasive breast cancer. Regular physical examinations will help you diagnose DCIS on time. A mammogram is the best way to detect any abnormalities in your milk duct. While ultrasound may also suffice, a mammogram is still the better way to go. However, even after a mammogram or an ultrasound shows some abnormality, you still have to have a biopsy to know for sure if you have cancer.
Treatment for DCIS
The ideal treatment for DCIS is to remove the cancer cells and help prevent the disease from recurring. This treatment should also be able to prevent the cancer from developing into a full-blown invasive cancer. So, usually the oncologist will advise you to undergo surgery. The extent of surgery varies. You may get away with just having the lump itself removed. In other cases, the lump and the surrounding tissues will be removed. In either case, you will be undergoing what is called a lumpectomy. Some women will undergo both a lumpectomy and radiation treatment. The most extreme surgery suggested for DCIS is the complete removal of the breast. Hopefully, you do not have to go through this. This can be not only physically taxing but also emotionally draining. If the cancer cells have not spread beyond the small lump, the lumpectomy may already solve your problem. Even after your cancer is gone, you should still have regular breast examinations later on. This is because if you have had the cancer before, you are at high risk of developing the same cancer again. You are also now at a higher risk of developing invasive breast cancer.
Other important treatments
As said earlier, DCIS can be emotionally draining. So, treatment should not be only on the physical. You should also undergo counseling. Going through cancer itself can be very devastating. Having to lose your breasts because of DCIS can be even more so. So, do not neglect your emotional well-being before and after treatment.
DCIS may not sound as dangerous as invasive breast cancer but it can develop into something similar. If not, DCIS can still bring a lot of chaos into a woman’s life. There is the constant fear of the cancer spreading. There is also the fear of surgery and of losing one’s feminine looks. There is also the “blaming stage” that sometimes happens. Some women believe that it was their own fault why they had the disease. If you are such a woman, remember that the definite cause of this disease has not yet been identified. There are risk factors that have been enumerated, however. If you do not have DCIS yet, try to live a better, healthier life. Do the same if you have just survived DCIS.