Treatment to the Whole Body

Women with DCIS already have an excellent chance of leading long, healthy lives. By adding anti-estrogen therapy to surgery and radiation for DCIS, you are making a very good situation a little bit better.

• Tamoxifen: Several studies have investigated the use of tamoxifen instead of or following radiation treatment after lumpectomy for early-stage cancers that are hormone-receptor positive. Tamoxifen, an anti-estrogen, blocks estrogen in the breast to help slow the growth of breast cancer cells. Studies indicate that women with estrogen-receptor-positive cancer who take tamoxifen can lower their risk of having an invasive cancer or a non-invasive cancer come back. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the use of tamoxifen for this situation.
• Aromatase inhibitors: Arimidex (chemical name: anastrozole), Femara (chemical name: letrozole), and Aromasin (chemical name: exemestane) have no proven role in women with DCIS. Some clinical trials are currently looking at this question.

Follow-up care

Although DCIS is a non-invasive, Stage 0 cancer, it is still vital to visit your doctor for regular checkups at least once each year. Your other breast also needs to be checked at that time. Your doctor may want to see you more often, depending on your individual situation.

Of course, if you notice any change in your breast before the year is up, you should call your doctor immediately and arrange an earlier appointment.

At each visit, the doctor should:

• check for symptoms or signs of possible recurrence or new cancer,
• review radiologic studies of the breasts such as mammography, ultrasound, and MRI,
• look for any problems related to treatment (such as bone loss from hormonal therapy), and
• consider issues related to growing older, such as joint pain, activity levels, and appetite and diet.

These visits are also a good time to strengthen your relationship with your doctor, and discuss any questions you may have about other health issues, such as pregnancy, issues with sexuality, or menopausal symptoms.