Some experts do not consider DCIS as actual cancer but instead classify it asprecancer.
When diagnosed and treated at this early stage, the expected outcome (prognosis) is usually excellent.
What Are the Symptoms of Stage 0 Breast Cancer?
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Stage 0 breast cancer usually has no symptoms and is typically discovered during a routine screeningmammogramorbreast MRI.
What Causes Stage O Breast Cancer?
The causes of DCIS are still unknown.
Get our printable guide for your next doctor’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
Risk factors include:
Cancer or Precancer?
There is some debate over whether DCIS is a precancer or noninvasive cancer.
Generally, DCIS is considered non-invasive cancer.
To some, however, precancer and non-invasive cancer are synonymous insofar as both have not yet become invasive.
How Is Stage 0 Breast Cancer Detected?
A mammogram can often detect stage 0 breast cancer during a route check-up.
If the mammogram looks abnormal, a needlebiopsywould be performed to extract cells to examine under a microscope.
A medical specialist called apathologistcan determine if the cells are consistent with DCIS.
The determination of stage 0 breast cancer is based on a classification system called theTNM Staging System.
Numbers or letters after T, N, and M provide additional details.
Not all stage 0 breast cancers require treatment.
At other times, cancer treatments such as surgery, radiation, or hormone therapy may be recommended.
How Long Is Life Expectancy With Stage 0 Breast Cancer?
The outlook for people with stage 0 breast cancer is excellent.
What this means is that 99 out of 100 people diagnosed at stage 0 will live forat leastfive years.
Other studies suggest that 97% of people diagnosed with DCIS will survive for at least 20 years.
Black females and females diagnosed with DCIS when they were under 35 are more likely to die.
Summary
Stage 0 breast cancer is the earliest stage of breast cancer.
Being diagnosed at this early stage sets you up for an excellent outcome.
Barrio AV, Van Zee KJ.Controversies in the treatment of ductal carcinoma in situ.Annu Rev Med.
2017;68:197-211. doi:10.1146/annurev-med-050715-104920
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What are the risk factors for breast cancer?.
American Cancer Society.Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS).
American Cancer Society.Your breast pathology report: ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS).
National Cancer Institute.Breast cancer treatment (PDQ)health professional version.
National Cancer Institute.Cancer stat facts: female breast cancer.
