Can anyone tell me about non invasive breast cancer?

[IfAtFirstUDontSucceed]

Sorry, the info I have is very vague as I have just been told the news 3rd hand that my DM has non invasive breast cancer cells.

My DF told DH this morning, and gave him the choice whether to tell me or not so as not to stress me out (currently 9 weeks pregnant and they know I've been feeling pretty rough with it)! So apologies if any of the info I have has been lost in translation.

I intend to speak to my Mum in a couple of days to let her know I know, but I know she will totally play it down.

Anyway, she apparently found a lump, goes for regular mammograms (no history of breast cancer in family, just her usual check ups due to her age - late 50's). It was found that she has non invasive cancer.

She is due to go in for surgery on Monday to have the lump removed, and has had some sort of radioactive do-dah inserted (?) so the surgeon knows where to go. (Another reason why she's avoiding me!)

I've done a bit of googling, but can anyone give me their personal knowledge or experience of what to expect.
Will she be unwell after surgery? Will she have to be on any medication? Is there now more risk of cancer in future?

Sorry - know I should be asking her these questions, but she is such a worrier that she'll either just clam up or end up sobbing!

[NK346f2849X127d8bca260]

Do you know if it is DCIS?
If it is that the prognosis is really good as it has not invaded breast tissue. I know someone who was diagnosed with DCIS several years ago following routine mammogram. She had the lump recovered and a few sessions of radiotherapy and recovered very well.

[IfAtFirstUDontSucceed]

Thank you!
Yes it's DCIS

That's reassuring to hear

[PollyPerky]

DCIS doesn't usually show itself with a lump- it's ductal carcinoma in situ(DCIS) ( deep in the milk glands within the breast) so the tumours tend to be tiny and only picked up on mammograms. So it's a bit odd what she's saying.

There is a lot of controversy over DCIS; 50 per cent of tumours never progress or turn cancerous so many women are being treated unnecessarily. This is why there is the controversy over mammograms ( DCIS wasn't being diagnosed so much before mass screening.)

The options are watch and wait, or treat as if cancer.

If they are treating it with surgery it looks as if she has opted to go down the treatment route. I think you need to talk to her drs to get a clearer picture- is your DH able to do this?

[greedyangel]

My dcis appeared as a lump, eventually measured after mastectomy as 3.4 centimetres. It can occur as a lump, sometimes with other breast disease inside or not. I was lucky to find the lump - it was also present throughout my breast in tiny formations, and it was 'high grade' which if left untreated is more likely than low/middle grade to become aggressive. My reconstruction is delayed becuase the lump size suggested the possibility of a hidden cancer inside, and the need for radiotherapy; I was luck that this was not the case.
The date of your post is much earlier than my reply here - but I was diagnosed at the same time, it seems, as your Mum. I am currently post mastectomy, with a tissue expander inserted in prep for reconstruction, and have the all clear. Still struggling with ptsd, though, the suddennness and shock of it all, and the grief it brought up from past losses (BF, etc) knocked me for six. getting back to normal slowly... some good info on dcis on the moose and doc website (USA)