Planning treatment for DCIS

Multidisciplinary team (MDT) Back to top

Your treatment will be planned by a team of specialists who work together (known as a multidisciplinary team) to decide which treatment is best for you.

Your doctors will talk with you about the treatment they recommend. If you have any questions, don’t be afraid to ask your doctor or specialist nurse. It often helps to make a list of the questions you want to ask and to take a close relative or friend with you to help you remember what is discussed.

 

The multidisciplinary team usually includes:

• a specialist breast surgeon
• a surgeon who specialises in breast reconstruction
• a breast care nurse who gives information and support
• clinical oncologists – doctors who specialise in treating cancer using radiotherapy and drug treatments, such as hormonal therapy
• a radiologist who reads mammograms and analyses scans
• a pathologist who examines cells under the microscope and advises on the type and extent of the cancer.

The MDT may also include other healthcare professionals, such as a physiotherapist, counsellors and psychologists, or a social worker.

The benefits and disadvantages of treatment Back to top

Some women with DCIS might be concerned about having treatment for a condition that isn’t life threatening. However, most women accept that it’s important to treat DCIS to prevent it from developing into an invasive cancer. Treatment removes the DCIS and reduces the risk of an invasive cancer.

Because there are different options, it’s important to think about what’s right for you. DCIS doesn’t usually need to be treated urgently so you can take time to think things over. Make sure you understand the treatment options and how they’re likely to affect you before you make a decision. You can ask questions or discuss anything you don’t understand with your surgeon or breast care nurse.

Sometimes people find it very hard to make a decision. If you’re asked to make a choice, such as about having additional treatment, make sure that you have enough information. Your specialist can explain what’s involved and any side effects of the treatment you might have so that you can decide what’s right for you.