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LCIS - Lobular Carcinoma In Situ
Questions about lobular carcinoma in situ.
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AskedPublicly Submitted Question
11/25/2011I now have DCIS, stage 2, ER+PR+ in my left breast for which I am having a simple masectomy as I have 2 aunts that died of it and 2 out of 3 sisters that have had invasive DC. I had LCIS in the other breast 11 yrs ago and had an excisional biopsy. Can I assume the LCIS is all gone and no longer a threat after the biopsy and 11 years? And when I have the masectomy will it eliminate the threat to the other breast? Or would I be safer just to remove both breasts?
RepliedJHU's Breast Center Reply
11/25/2011Thank you for turning to the Johns Hopkins Breast Center. You share a very strong family history of breast cancer, which raises a red flag...would suggest genetic counseling and testing. If you were to be BRCA positive, knowing this may help make a decison about your surgical choice, such as bilateral mastectomy. As far as LCIS, while surgically removed 11 years ago, one remains at risk for it to develop again in same breast or other breast. In addition, having a mastectomy on one breast does not eliminate local recurrence of breast cancer to the breast removed, as there is still some breast tissue left behind with mastectomy, and one can develop a breast cancer in the remaining breast in the future. Please consult with a breast surgical oncologist, a breast medical oncologist and a breast plastic reconstructive surgeon, at a Comprehensive Breast Center, to get anwers to your good questions before undergoing surgery. Hope this helps and best wishes.

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