Q: Does a DCIS diagnosis mean I have breast cancer? What should I prepare myself for in terms of treatment and prognosis?
A couple of years ago, my mom, at the age of 80, insisted on undergoing “one last mammogram.” Technically, she was beyond the age range in which they’re recommended — 40 to 74 — but she had just moved to Miami and started seeing a new doctor, so she wanted a clean bill of health as she started her new life. The mammogram detected a suspicious area, though, and a biopsy revealed ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS).