What is precancerous (very early) breast cancer?
There are two very early, or precancerous, types of breast cancer: • Ductal carcinma in situ (DCIS) • Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is where cells in the breast duct have started to turn into cancer cells. These precancerous cells are unable to spread through the lining of the duct and can usually be successfully removed by surgery. If left untreated some, but not all, DCIS will become invasive. However, the dilemma at present is that there is no way of identifying which cases of DCIS will become invasive. Removal of all the DCIS is effective treatment. Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) is where there are changes in the cells in the breast lobule. However, LCIS does not mean the cells are starting to turn into cancer cells. It is normally managed by careful monitoring rather than treatment. Most women diagnosed with LCIS do not develop breast cancer. However, if you have been diagnosed with LCIS you have an increased chance of developing breast cancer
