January 21, 2013 - Just got a call from MD Anderson. They have been in communication with my fertility doctor. They have decided to move my surgery to February 14, 2013 so that I could complete the process of freezing my eggs. If I didn't already hate Valentines Day, I guess I would have a reason to now. LOL!
Sorry there haven't been any updates, but I have been exhausted with this whole fertility thing. Kinda think I may be anemic because I have had so much blood taken. I will try to update tonight or tomorrow.
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Friday, January 18, 2013
FINALLY some good FREAKIN' news!!!!!
January 18, 2013 - Got a phone call around 10:30 AM only to have Jessica from MD Anderson quickly say "Amber, I have great news. You tested negative for the BRCA 1 & 2 gene" I almost cried!!!!! That means I get to keep my ovaries and DO NOT have to have a double mastectomy. That also means my sister's risk is lower for developing breast cancer. Now I just need to decide on having only a lumpectomy or a mastectomy on the right side. I want to be safe and positive this will be gone and I will never have to worry about this coming back and have the mastectomy, but I will talk to my surgeon on her opinion now that we have all the pieces of the puzzle.
Also today I met with the fertility doctor. After lots of blood work and an ultrasound we (really meaning the doctor) decided on a regiment on how to prep my eggs. Kinda sucks; I have to (or should I say Zac has to) give me two shots a day in the belly for the next 3 days. I go back on Monday and we repeat blood work and ultrasound and will decide on my dosage for the next 3 days, and so forth. We (the doctor) are hoping to remove the eggs on the 30th give or take a couple of days. My fertility doctor and all my doctors at MDA are on the same page and in communication with my treatment. Sooooo - my surgery maybe bumped up a week. I was told to keep an eye on my MDA website to see the updates. I will keep everyone posted (for those who are traveling and/or taking off work) as soon as I hear something.
Zac and I had a very eventful day so we decided to stay home and have a movie/wine/video game/iPad game night. We have friends coming in from out of town this weekend and will be celebrating two birthday tomorrow.
Remember, check your breast and have a great weekend!
Also today I met with the fertility doctor. After lots of blood work and an ultrasound we (really meaning the doctor) decided on a regiment on how to prep my eggs. Kinda sucks; I have to (or should I say Zac has to) give me two shots a day in the belly for the next 3 days. I go back on Monday and we repeat blood work and ultrasound and will decide on my dosage for the next 3 days, and so forth. We (the doctor) are hoping to remove the eggs on the 30th give or take a couple of days. My fertility doctor and all my doctors at MDA are on the same page and in communication with my treatment. Sooooo - my surgery maybe bumped up a week. I was told to keep an eye on my MDA website to see the updates. I will keep everyone posted (for those who are traveling and/or taking off work) as soon as I hear something.
Zac and I had a very eventful day so we decided to stay home and have a movie/wine/video game/iPad game night. We have friends coming in from out of town this weekend and will be celebrating two birthday tomorrow.
Remember, check your breast and have a great weekend!
"Do you understand..."
"....the words comin' outa my mouth" (Chris Tucker voice)
January 17, 2013 - went to see the Medical Oncologist today. Pretty much the meeting was to make sure I understood everything that was going on.
Update - I tested positive for estrogen, progesterone, and Her2+ and my tumor is a Grade 3 (meaning it's medium aggressive). 65% of my estrogen is feeding the cancer. So with that being said, I will be on tamoxifen for 5 years. In which during that time I will not be able to become pregnant. I will be on herceptin for 1 year due to the Her2+ and some sort of chemotherapy for 5 - 6 months. (We are still waiting on the genetics test)
What is herceptin???? According to herceptin.com, "Herceptin is approved for the treatment of early-stage breast cancer that is Human Epidermal growth factor Receptor 2-positive (HER2+) and has spread into the lymph nodes, or is HER2+ and has not spread into the lymph nodes. If it has not spread into the lymph nodes, the cancer needs to be estrogen receptor/progesterone receptor (ER/PR)-negative or have one high risk feature.*
Herceptin can be used in several different ways:
January 17, 2013 - went to see the Medical Oncologist today. Pretty much the meeting was to make sure I understood everything that was going on.
Update - I tested positive for estrogen, progesterone, and Her2+ and my tumor is a Grade 3 (meaning it's medium aggressive). 65% of my estrogen is feeding the cancer. So with that being said, I will be on tamoxifen for 5 years. In which during that time I will not be able to become pregnant. I will be on herceptin for 1 year due to the Her2+ and some sort of chemotherapy for 5 - 6 months. (We are still waiting on the genetics test)
What is herceptin???? According to herceptin.com, "Herceptin is approved for the treatment of early-stage breast cancer that is Human Epidermal growth factor Receptor 2-positive (HER2+) and has spread into the lymph nodes, or is HER2+ and has not spread into the lymph nodes. If it has not spread into the lymph nodes, the cancer needs to be estrogen receptor/progesterone receptor (ER/PR)-negative or have one high risk feature.*
Herceptin can be used in several different ways:
- As part of a treatment course including the chemotherapy drugs Adriamycin® (doxorubicin), Cytoxan® (cyclophosphamide), and either Taxol® (paclitaxel) or Taxotere® (docetaxel). This treatment course is known as "AC→TH"
- With the chemotherapy drugs Taxotere and Paraplatin® (carboplatin). This treatment course is known as "TCH"
- Alone after treatment with multiple other therapies, including an anthracycline (Adriamycin)-based therapy (a type of chemotherapy) *High risk is defined as ER/PR-positive with one of the following features: tumor size >2 cm, age <35 years, or tumor grade 2 or 3.
I was told I needed to contact a fertility doctor as soon as possible in order to preserve my eggs and the Medical Oncologist would be willing to put off treatment for a couple of weeks for me to do that.
Now the tough part...With the drug combination I will be on, I WILL lose my hair. I've decided to cut it short and when I start treatments me, Zac, and his brother are going to buzz our heads. LOL! I think it will be less horrifying for me to shave then to brush and it fall out on its own. I hope I don't have a misshaped head!!!! I'm going to buy funky wigs and scarfs, but I'm sure I will start to feel confident with my new look and embrace it. On the bright side, I will save money on hair products and razors. :)
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Bad day :(
January 15, 2013 - Didn't have a great day today. Going to have surgery on February 5, 2013 (as of right now) & I think everything is starting to sink in. Talked to the nurse this afternoon & she said that I need to get with a fertility specialist ASAP. I really want to have kids, but I know I can't risk my own health. I will meet with the Medical Onocologist this Thursday and we are going to discuss treatment options. I hope they can give me some light at the end of the tunnel. I guess since I've known that I had cancer I've had more good days than bad. :) I will continue to keep my spirits up. Night all!
Friday, January 11, 2013
A small favor to ask...
January 11, 2013 - I have a small favor to ask everyone reading the blog. I'm curious to see who is reading the blog (if anyone) and would love it if you would sign up as a member. I hope that each of you are becoming more aware of breast cancer and hope you have a smile on your face while reading the blog. I know I'm smiling while writing it!
As of today my next appointment is not until January 22, 2013, but that can change quickly. I will still continue to post facts & statistics but also about the different case studies I have become a part of for breast cancer research. So until then, have a great weekend. Remember men get breat cancer too so everyone should do self examinations. Have you checked your breast today?
As of today my next appointment is not until January 22, 2013, but that can change quickly. I will still continue to post facts & statistics but also about the different case studies I have become a part of for breast cancer research. So until then, have a great weekend. Remember men get breat cancer too so everyone should do self examinations. Have you checked your breast today?
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Soooooo I'm Not crazy
So I had only one appointment today & that was with the Psychiatric Oncologist. My surgeon set it because of my history of anxiety & wanted me to see someone to get medication. I don't think I need it but she feels the closer I get to surgery time there is a possibility I will start having panic attacks.
Pretty sure the doctor didn't know what to expect with a 35 year old with cancer & how my mind set would be. Of course, all we did was laugh through the entire session. As we talked she got off subject a bit and started to ask me off the wall questions like, Can you tell me what your closet looks like? I said that it was not too messy & she said no like is it organized. Um yea it is!! It's color coordinated and everything. She then asked if I liked to vacuum a lot or feel like I need to always need to vacuum. (Knowing where she was going with these types of questions) I said No but I sure do love Chlorox Wipes & proceeded to tell her how much I wipe the counters down in the kitchen. She said you are aware you have a lot of OCD tendencies. With pride & a big smile I said YEP! Of course the next question was what do you do for a living. My response was I'm sure you know the answer to that but I'm an accountant. For some reason she didn't seem surprised & I walked out the door with two prescriptions. LOL! I did ask if she thought I was crazy & she said no, but I bet that's what they tell all the patients. ;)
To quote the movie Dumber & Dumber "Pills are good!"
I will end tonight with laughter and save some fact & stats for another night.
Good night & I love you all!
Pretty sure the doctor didn't know what to expect with a 35 year old with cancer & how my mind set would be. Of course, all we did was laugh through the entire session. As we talked she got off subject a bit and started to ask me off the wall questions like, Can you tell me what your closet looks like? I said that it was not too messy & she said no like is it organized. Um yea it is!! It's color coordinated and everything. She then asked if I liked to vacuum a lot or feel like I need to always need to vacuum. (Knowing where she was going with these types of questions) I said No but I sure do love Chlorox Wipes & proceeded to tell her how much I wipe the counters down in the kitchen. She said you are aware you have a lot of OCD tendencies. With pride & a big smile I said YEP! Of course the next question was what do you do for a living. My response was I'm sure you know the answer to that but I'm an accountant. For some reason she didn't seem surprised & I walked out the door with two prescriptions. LOL! I did ask if she thought I was crazy & she said no, but I bet that's what they tell all the patients. ;)
To quote the movie Dumber & Dumber "Pills are good!"
I will end tonight with laughter and save some fact & stats for another night.
Good night & I love you all!
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Let's talk genetics
January 8, 2013 - my mommy's birthday! Happy Birthday Mom!
Zac and I went and met with the genetics doctor. We discussed my family history and cancer in the family. I found out over the weekend that my Maw-Maw Guilbeaux had two sister diagnosed with breast cancer. According to the doctor the BRCA 1 & BRCA 2 gene is in our body (men and women) is there as a defense against breast cancer and ovarian cancer. Oddly, it is carried through the male side of the family, which is weird considering they don't have ovaries and not as much breast tissue as a woman.
But when this gene is tested they are looking for different variations/mutations in the gene. If there is a "code" problem, then you are tested positive for the "breast cancer" gene. Considering the breast cancer is on my Maw-Maw's side they felt like my chances of testing positive were around 5 - 10% If it was on Paw-Paw's side, then I would more than likely test positive.
If tested positive, your chances of developing breast cancer in the other breast is 60%. Normally breast cancer won't move to the remaining breast if you are tested negative. Also, a normal woman has a 1 - 2% chance of developing ovarian cancer. If tested positive for the BRCA 1 & BRCA 2 gene their chances to increase to 40%.
According to the genetics doctor, there is not a great test for discovering ovarian cancer and that is why they usually remove the ovaries. They will wait to remove them when a woman has reached 35 and has already had children or wait until she has children, if over 35. Again, if I test negative that is great, but again it is the chemotherapy that will hinder me having children unless I freeze my eggs.
To test for this gene is just a simple blood test. After meeting with the genetics doctor I went and had my blood drawn. We should get the results in about 3 weeks. I hope this was informative and I hope I interpreted this correctly. We will keep you updated on the next appointment. I love you all and appreciate your support and prayers! You guys are the best!!!
Zac and I went and met with the genetics doctor. We discussed my family history and cancer in the family. I found out over the weekend that my Maw-Maw Guilbeaux had two sister diagnosed with breast cancer. According to the doctor the BRCA 1 & BRCA 2 gene is in our body (men and women) is there as a defense against breast cancer and ovarian cancer. Oddly, it is carried through the male side of the family, which is weird considering they don't have ovaries and not as much breast tissue as a woman.
But when this gene is tested they are looking for different variations/mutations in the gene. If there is a "code" problem, then you are tested positive for the "breast cancer" gene. Considering the breast cancer is on my Maw-Maw's side they felt like my chances of testing positive were around 5 - 10% If it was on Paw-Paw's side, then I would more than likely test positive.
If tested positive, your chances of developing breast cancer in the other breast is 60%. Normally breast cancer won't move to the remaining breast if you are tested negative. Also, a normal woman has a 1 - 2% chance of developing ovarian cancer. If tested positive for the BRCA 1 & BRCA 2 gene their chances to increase to 40%.
According to the genetics doctor, there is not a great test for discovering ovarian cancer and that is why they usually remove the ovaries. They will wait to remove them when a woman has reached 35 and has already had children or wait until she has children, if over 35. Again, if I test negative that is great, but again it is the chemotherapy that will hinder me having children unless I freeze my eggs.
To test for this gene is just a simple blood test. After meeting with the genetics doctor I went and had my blood drawn. We should get the results in about 3 weeks. I hope this was informative and I hope I interpreted this correctly. We will keep you updated on the next appointment. I love you all and appreciate your support and prayers! You guys are the best!!!
First meeting with the surgeon
January 7, 2013 - Even though my mom & Zac went with me to meet with the surgeon, there are still a lot of unanswered questions. The reason being, there are still tests that need to be ran in order for me to make the right decision, so surgery will not be scheduled for another month. With that being said, I will inform you on how I interpreted the conversation. My cancer is Stage 2 because it measures 1.88 cm but considering it is contained it's Stage 0. We need to find out if it is estrogen related and/or if it is genetic. Depending on the outcome of each of these, individually and collectively, will determine if I only have a lumpectomy or a double mastectomy.
If it is NOT estrogen related and NOT genetic, then I can have a lumpectomy with radiation. If it is estrogen related then I will be placed on a pill for 5 years. (2 out of 3 breast cancer cases are estrogen related) During which I will NOT be able to get pregnant and there is a possibility I wouldn't be able to become pregnant afterwards because the pill causes menopause or the ovaries no longer can function.
If it is genetic, I will have to make the decision to have a double mastectomy and will have to have my ovaries taken due to the increase risk of ovarian cancer. The one thing I am unclear on right now, is the surgeon said no matter what I will have to have chemotherapy. Having chemotherapy means that I will have to see a fertility doctor in order to have my eggs frozen if I decide to have children in the future. In my opinion this doesn't make much sense, but hey I'm just an accountant not a doctor. So I will get clarification on this soon and keep you updated.
If it is NOT estrogen related and NOT genetic, then I can have a lumpectomy with radiation. If it is estrogen related then I will be placed on a pill for 5 years. (2 out of 3 breast cancer cases are estrogen related) During which I will NOT be able to get pregnant and there is a possibility I wouldn't be able to become pregnant afterwards because the pill causes menopause or the ovaries no longer can function.
If it is genetic, I will have to make the decision to have a double mastectomy and will have to have my ovaries taken due to the increase risk of ovarian cancer. The one thing I am unclear on right now, is the surgeon said no matter what I will have to have chemotherapy. Having chemotherapy means that I will have to see a fertility doctor in order to have my eggs frozen if I decide to have children in the future. In my opinion this doesn't make much sense, but hey I'm just an accountant not a doctor. So I will get clarification on this soon and keep you updated.
And so it begins
January 4, 2013 - my appointments started with New Patient Registration at 6:30 A.M. Boo! Zac and I left at 5:15 A.M. Had another mammogram and ultrasound. The radiologist said nothing had changed and according to the ultrasound the cancer still hasn't gotten to my lymph nodes.
Considering I have to add humor to everything, I jokingly spoke about the positive side to this situation was that I was going to get a tummy tuck and new boobs. She informed me that I was too skinny (which made me feel good considering I've gained about 15 lbs since summer) to have them reconstruct my breasts (if I have a mastectomy) with my tummy and I would have to have implants. BUT... I do get to choose what size...Hmmmm something to think about. LOL!
Considering I have to add humor to everything, I jokingly spoke about the positive side to this situation was that I was going to get a tummy tuck and new boobs. She informed me that I was too skinny (which made me feel good considering I've gained about 15 lbs since summer) to have them reconstruct my breasts (if I have a mastectomy) with my tummy and I would have to have implants. BUT... I do get to choose what size...Hmmmm something to think about. LOL!
Let's get this party started!
December 27, 2012 - MD Anderson called to let me know that my first appoint was going to be Friday, January 4, 2013. I will have to have another mammogram and ultrasound and then on Monday, January 7, 2013 I will meet with the surgeon to start discussing our plan of action. FINALLY! Now maybe I can kind of relax and not worry so much.
December 28 - 30, 2012 - we headed to Uvalde, TX to have Christmas with Zac's side of the family. I was excited to get to talk with his grandmother, we just found out she also had breast cancer, and his Aunt Therese who had breast cancer. As always, it was hard to leave, but Chris, Kimberly, and Steven were coming to Conroe to bring in the New Year with us!
December 28 - 30, 2012 - we headed to Uvalde, TX to have Christmas with Zac's side of the family. I was excited to get to talk with his grandmother, we just found out she also had breast cancer, and his Aunt Therese who had breast cancer. As always, it was hard to leave, but Chris, Kimberly, and Steven were coming to Conroe to bring in the New Year with us!
Christmas Eve
Zac, myself, and Tex (the dog) went to my parents house for Christmas Eve. It was the first time to see my parents face to face since the news. Everyone was in good spirits. My dad said my Maw-Maw & Paw-Paw Guilbeaux were taking things very hard. We did a little last minute Christmas shopping with my sister and my brother. Next stop we went to Maw-Maw & Paw-Paw's for some of the best gumbo you will ever eat! My Maw-Maw is an amazing cook, but she's Cajun so that's an obvious statement.
I updated them on what we knew so far. I think having them see I was still my old self (upbeat, positive, and determined) made them feel more relieved about the situation.
We went back to mom's and my sister's boyfriend came over (with Aegis - the new puppy) and we decided to have a few (too many) cocktails & play Phase 10. Anything to get our minds of things...
I updated them on what we knew so far. I think having them see I was still my old self (upbeat, positive, and determined) made them feel more relieved about the situation.
We went back to mom's and my sister's boyfriend came over (with Aegis - the new puppy) and we decided to have a few (too many) cocktails & play Phase 10. Anything to get our minds of things...
Finally a phone call!
December 21, 2012 - Phone rang at 8:30 A.M. and it was the nurse at MD Anderson. We spoke of logistics and stated she needed my medical records faxed over and for me to pick up a disk of my images taken from Memorial Hermans Breast Center. Knowing my doctor's office closes at noon on Friday's, we hopped out of bed and started gathering the information. We wanted to do it quickly considering the Christmas holidays the next week. We were able to get everything faxed over just in time. Off for more Christmas shopping...those who know me well know I like to shop when I'm depressed/upset.
WHAT!?
December 19, 2012 - after little sleep, I called my OB/GYN to see if she could re-explain everything to me. After getting off the phone I did what any person would do and that was go to the internet to research. BIG MISTAKE!!!! I freaked out and upset myself all over again. I vowed from that moment I would only go to MD Anderson's website or the American Cancer Society website to get my information. I contacted MD Anderson by filling out information online & had to wait for them to contact me.
Tired of waiting on someone to call me, I decided to go to work. Yep, you read that right; I went to work. Only to be greeted by my boss asking why I was there LOL! We talked about everything and she suggested I take the rest of the week off to wrap my head around things. I decided she may be right. I guess Zac and I will go Christmas shopping. :)
Tired of waiting on someone to call me, I decided to go to work. Yep, you read that right; I went to work. Only to be greeted by my boss asking why I was there LOL! We talked about everything and she suggested I take the rest of the week off to wrap my head around things. I decided she may be right. I guess Zac and I will go Christmas shopping. :)
I'm sorry I think you have the wrong number
December 18, 2012 - normal day at work, except for having a cold. On my drive home I get a phone call from my OB/GYN so I pull over to answer the call. Good thing too because no "hi Ms. Guilbeaux is this a good time" just lets read from a report with no emotion all this medical gibberish. The word cancer never came out of her mouth until I asked " Are you telling me I have cancer?" The response was yes. Don't remember much after that except thinking "did she call the right patient.". After all, I'm only 35! How can I have cancer?! Got home & had to figure out how in the hell am I gonna tell my parents I have cancer. That was the worst phone call I've ever had to make in my entire life! After talking with my family we came to the agreement that I had to have the best care in the world which means MD Anderson will be my caretaker. Made several calls that night to family & close friends to give them the shocking news. The common response from everyone was "OMG! I am so sorry. I'm in shock & don't know what to say." Trust me, I feel the same way.
The fear of thinking your gonna die. You know you not alone, but at that time you feel more alone then you ever have in your life. At that moment is when you have to make a decision: Am I going to feel sorry for myself & push people out of your life or are you going to embrace the ones around you & be positive? Anyone who knows me knows which path I took. I decided to embrace & be positive. And as a bonus feature (because we all love bonus features) I decided to add humor to the situation. Granted it took me about a week for the humor to come into play, but better late than never right?
The fear of thinking your gonna die. You know you not alone, but at that time you feel more alone then you ever have in your life. At that moment is when you have to make a decision: Am I going to feel sorry for myself & push people out of your life or are you going to embrace the ones around you & be positive? Anyone who knows me knows which path I took. I decided to embrace & be positive. And as a bonus feature (because we all love bonus features) I decided to add humor to the situation. Granted it took me about a week for the humor to come into play, but better late than never right?
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
How the journey began
In October 2012, I found a lump in my right breast. I didn't freak out because I thought it was just a cyst. I was going to my Well Woman's Exam on November 30, 2012 so I decided I would wait and bring it to my doctors attention then. When I went to my OB/GYN on November 30th we discussed the mass I found, located at 12:00, in my right breast. She wasn't alarmed but just as a precaution ordered a bilateral ultrasound and mammogram. This was to be scheduled for December 12, 2012.
December 12, 2012 - I had to be at Memorial Hermans Breast Center in The Woodlands at 7:30 A.M. I decided to go alone. After registered, I was brought in for my first mammogram. I think I was more nervous about how painful the procedure was going to be then the actual results. To be honest, it wasn't nearly as bad as all the stories I've heard. Next, I was scheduled for an ultrasound with nurse Ms. Shirley. After she completed the ultrasound, she brought the results to the radiologist who then performed another ultrasound. After the second ultrasound, the radiologist said that after looking at the ultrasound and mammogram she said the mass found was suspicious looking and I should have a biopsy. We scheduled the biopsy for December 14, 2012.
December 14, 2012 - I had to be back at Memorial Hermans Breast Center in The Woodlands at 8:30 A.M. This time I had moral support...my Mom and Zac. After registration, I walked through the door in the back to go change and was greeted with a smile by nurse Shirley. She said, "I've been waiting on you! I wanted to be with you in the room while you had your procedure." How amazing is that! Talk about making me feel at ease to see a friendly face. :)
The biopsy took about 20 minutes. Afterwards I was given care instructions and said I would get the results in 3 - 5 business days.
My Aunt Jana and baby Lindzey came to the house afterwards. It was a great surprise and even though I wasn't suppose to lift anything more than 10 lbs, I couldn't resist holding Lindzey. ;)
December 12, 2012 - I had to be at Memorial Hermans Breast Center in The Woodlands at 7:30 A.M. I decided to go alone. After registered, I was brought in for my first mammogram. I think I was more nervous about how painful the procedure was going to be then the actual results. To be honest, it wasn't nearly as bad as all the stories I've heard. Next, I was scheduled for an ultrasound with nurse Ms. Shirley. After she completed the ultrasound, she brought the results to the radiologist who then performed another ultrasound. After the second ultrasound, the radiologist said that after looking at the ultrasound and mammogram she said the mass found was suspicious looking and I should have a biopsy. We scheduled the biopsy for December 14, 2012.
December 14, 2012 - I had to be back at Memorial Hermans Breast Center in The Woodlands at 8:30 A.M. This time I had moral support...my Mom and Zac. After registration, I walked through the door in the back to go change and was greeted with a smile by nurse Shirley. She said, "I've been waiting on you! I wanted to be with you in the room while you had your procedure." How amazing is that! Talk about making me feel at ease to see a friendly face. :)
The biopsy took about 20 minutes. Afterwards I was given care instructions and said I would get the results in 3 - 5 business days.
My Aunt Jana and baby Lindzey came to the house afterwards. It was a great surprise and even though I wasn't suppose to lift anything more than 10 lbs, I couldn't resist holding Lindzey. ;)
What is breast cancer?
According to the American Cancer Society, cancer is a group
of diseases that cause cells in the body to change and grow out of control.
Most types of cancer cells eventually form a lump or mass called a tumor, and
are named after the part of the body where the tumor originates.
Breast cancer begins in breast tissue, which is made up of
glands for milk production, called lobules, and the ducts that connect the
lobules to the nipple. The remainder of the breast is made up of fatty,
connective, and lymphatic tissue.
• Most masses are
benign; that is, they are not cancerous, do not grow uncontrollably or spread,
and are not life-threatening.
• Some breast
cancers are called in situ because they are confined within the ducts (ductal
carcinoma in situ or DCIS) or lobules (lobular carcinoma in situ or LCIS) where
they originated. Many oncologists believe that LCIS (also known as lobular
neoplasia) is not a true cancer, but an indicator of increased risk for
developing invasive cancer in either breast.
· The majority of in situ breast cancers are DCIS, which
accounted for about 83% of in situ cases diagnosed during 2004-2008.
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