Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS) Increases Future Breast Cancer Risk

Depending on what you read, ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is either a pre-cancer condition that can become breast cancer in the future or is the earliest form of breast cancer.  In either case, DCIS increases a woman's risk of developing invasive breast cancer in the future.  However, the amount of risk appears to be unclear and depends upon how the DCIS is treated.

A new breast cancer research study analyzed the risk of developing future invasive breast cancer in a group of 3,167 Norwegian women diagnosed with DCIS.  The women enrolled in the study were diagnosed with DCIS between 1993 and 2007 and were followed for several years.  Analysis of the risk for developing future invasive breast cancer showed:

• Overall, DCIS patients had an 11.2% risk of developing any breast cancer and a 9.4% risk of developing invasive breast cancer within a 10-year period.  This put DCIS patients at 5 times the risk of the general population.
• DCIS patients treated with mastectomy had a 3.8% risk of developing a future breast cancer within 10 years.
• DCIS patients treated with breast-conserving surgery (lumpectomy) had 9.8% risk of developing a future breast cancer.
• Breast cancer mortality of DCIS patients within the 10-year period was 2.5%, which was about 4 times the risk faced by the general population.

This new breast cancer study continues to confirm that ductal carcinoma in situ increases the risk of future breast cancers.  For women diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ, it is important to discuss treatment options with their doctors in order to determine what is best for their particular situation and the level of risk with which they are comfortable.  Additionally, it is important for DCIS patients to develop a specific screening strategy as a more intensive screening regimen will be important for catching any future breast cancer developments as early as possible.

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