Ductal Carcinoma in Situ of the Breast - Treatment Options, Symptoms, Causes & Diagnosis from MedifocusHealth

Ductal Carcinoma in Situ of the Breast > Understanding Ductal Carcinoma in Situ of the Breast > Diagnosis of Ductal Carcinoma in Situ > Signs and Symptoms of Ductal Carcinoma in Situ

Diagnosis of Ductal Carcinoma in Situ

Signs and Symptoms of Ductal Carcinoma in Situ

In the past, women with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) had a mass large enough to be felt (the average size of a DCIS mass discovered on exam was 60mm) or nipple discharge before the diagnosis could be made. Since screening mammography became more widely available in the 1980s, many cases of DCIS are discovered before any symptoms develop and the average size of DCIS has been reduced to 10mm at the time of discovery. It has been estimated that DCIS accounts for about 20% of all mammographically detected breast cancers.

In general, signs and symptoms of breast cancer may include:

Lump or mass felt in the breast or under the arm
Recent changes in the appearance of the nipple (i.e., inversion or retraction)
Dimpling or "orange peel" appearance of the breast
New asymmetry of the breasts (a change in the contour of the breast where one breast is higher than the other)
Nipple discharge that is bloody or foul smelling - Nipple discharge is not always a symptom of breast cancer. Spontaneous nipple discharge is associated with carcinoma about 20-25% of the time. Expressed nipple discharge is usually due to medication or endocrinologic causes.