Is There Any Such Thing As Stage 0 Breast Cancer?

          Yes, there is. Stage 0 breast cancer is breast cancer that is detected very very early – when the cancer cells are still confined to the ducts within the breast. Very little of the breast tissue has become affected. About one fifth of all breast cancers detected are at this very early stage.

          There are two types of Stage 0 breast cancer. One is called lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS). Some doctors regard this as more like a very high risk that breast cancer may develop. It is usually found by chance during a routine breast biopsy when looking for something else. It can be left untreated, but with close monitoring to check for further development, or, in the case of women with a strong family history of breast cancer, a simple mastectomy (breast removal without lymph node removal) can be carried out. Drug treatment with tamoxifen is also an option.

          The other type is called ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). In this case, the cancer cells are found in the milk ducts but have not spread into the breast tissue at all. This sort of Stage 0 breast cancer can be picked up by a mammogram and then is confirmed by a biopsy. A lumpectomy or mastectomy is usually done and this can be followed up by radiotherapy.

If you had a DCIS and had a lumpectomy and the margins were not as wide  and it was close to the muscle would you have a mastectomy or continue on with radiation therapy with two extra treatments??