Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS): What Treatment Is Right for Me?

Breast-conserving surgery with radiation

Mastectomy

You will have surgery to remove just the cancer and some breast tissue around it.

You will probably be able to go home the same day as the surgery.

After the surgery, you will probably have daily radiation treatments for 3 to 5 weeks. Breast-conserving surgery without radiation may be an option for some people.

If your cancer is hormone-receptor positive and HER2-negative, your doctor may advise you to take hormone therapy for several years after surgery.

You will have surgery to remove the whole breast.

You may need to stay in the hospital for a night or two after the surgery.

During the surgery, the doctor may remove one or more of the lymph nodes under your arm to check them for cancer.

Some people decide to have breast reconstruction surgery. This is up to you.

If your cancer is hormone-receptor positive and HER2-negative, your doctor may advise you to take hormone therapy for several years after surgery.

Breast-conserving surgery with radiation

Mastectomy

Recovery from surgery is faster and easier than with mastectomy. You will be able to get back to your normal routine sooner.

You will keep more of your natural breast, with its natural look and feeling.

There is no difference in survival compared to mastectomy.

You probably won’t need radiation. This means you will avoid its risks and side effects.

You will have less chance of cancer coming back than you would with breast-conserving surgery.

There is no difference in survival compared to breast-conserving surgery.

Breast-conserving surgery with radiation

Mastectomy

Ten years after their diagnosis, 98 to 99 out of 100 people who have breast-conserving surgery will still be alive.

There is a small risk cancer will come back in the same breast.

Hormone therapy reduces the risk of you getting breast cancer in the future.

Ten years after their diagnosis, 98 to 99 out of 100 people who have a mastectomy will still be alive.

There is a very small risk cancer will come back in the area the breast was.

Hormone therapy reduces the risk of you getting cancer in your other breast.

Breast-conserving surgery with radiation

Mastectomy

All surgery has some risks, including bleeding, infections, and risks from anesthesia.

Your breast may not look or feel the same. For example, the shape of the breast might change a bit, or you could have hard scar tissue under the skin.

There is a risk that all of the cancer may not have been removed during the surgery. If this happens, you will need to have more breast tissue removed.

Radiation can cause fatigue and skin changes, such as swelling, redness, peeling, or color changes.

All surgery has some risks, including bleeding, infections, and risks from anesthesia.

The risk of complications from surgery is slightly higher than with breast-conserving surgery. But the risk is still very low.

If you have lymph nodes removed, it can cause problems with your arm. You could have:

• Swelling (lymphedema).

• Reduced ability to move your arm or shoulder.

• Tingling, burning, or loss of feeling in your arm.

These can last for a short time or much longer.

Breast-conserving surgery with radiation

Mastectomy

Most women can get back to their normal routine within a few days after the surgery.

There may be some swelling, soreness, and bruising around the cut (incision). Soreness should go away in a few days.

When your radiation treatment is done, it may take several weeks before your usual energy level returns. Some of the side effects may take longer to improve.

It may take 3 to 6 weeks before you can get back to your normal routine. This depends on how you feel and what kind of routine you have.

You will go home with one or more drains near your cut (incision). These help with healing. The drain is a small plastic bulb with a thin tube that lets you drain extra fluid from your breast area. Drains are usually removed in the first few weeks after surgery, once fluid buildup slows.

There may be some swelling, soreness, or bruising around the incision.

For several weeks after the surgery, you will have limits on what you can lift and carry and how high you can raise your arms. You won’t be able to drive right away.

If you had any lymph nodes removed from under your arm, you will need to do arm exercises to prevent lymphedema.