Ductal Carcinoma In Situ

Ductal carcinoma is a type of breast carcinoma (cancer), making up approximately 80% of all cases of breast cancer diagnosed in Australia.

In Australia, approximately 1,500-1,700 women are diagnosed with DCIS each year. Pre-invasive ductal carcinoma in-situ was diagnosed in about 1,724 Australian women in 2008, and increase from 998 in 1997. The age standardised diagnosis of incident ductal carcinoma in situ increased from 11 per 100,000 in 1997 to 15 per 100,000 in 2008.

The goal of therapy for DCIS is to prevent the development of invasive breast cancer and typically includes localised treatment (surgery and radiotherapy), chemotherapy and hormonal therapy.

Women with tumours that are proven on histology to express oestrogen receptors should be offered hormone therapies such as tamoxifen or ovarian ablation therapy (procedure whereby ovaries are intentionally damaged to decrease production of oestrogen).