Hello and thank you for posting,

I am sorry to learn that you have recently been diagnosed with DCIS.

DCIS is usually treated with surgery. Where DCIS cannot be felt, the exact position has to be marked for the surgeon so they can remove the exact area. Some hospitals now use a very low dose of radioactive seed (about the size of a grain of rice) which is inserted into the breast tissue a couple of weeks before an operation to remove the DCIS. Then during the surgery, a special probe is used to guide the surgeon to where the seed is and the tissue that needs to be removed. I wondered if this is what you are referring to. The seed is then removed during surgery, there is some information on Breast Cancer Now on the DCIS page.

I hope this helps please come back to us with any further questions we are available between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday and the freephone number to call is 0808 800 4040.

Take care

Jemma

Thank you that is helpful 

Just to clarify are areas of DCIs always removed surgically after the seed has done its work 

Hi Tuckertom and thank you for coming back to us.

The radioactive seed serves as a marker to locate the DCIS. It does not kill any abnormal cells. Once the breast surgeon has located the seed, they will remove the area of DCIS along with a margin of healthy cells to ensure that it is completely excised. I hope this provides more clarity.

I hope you enjoy the rest of your holiday.

Kind regards

Tina

Im not sure it does x I thought the radioactive seed would target abnormal cells ,prior to surgery . I already have a marker seed implanted after initial biopsy 

Hello and thanks for your further post

I'm not sure if you've had the chance to look at the links that my colleagues have sent to you yet. But as Tina has mentioned, the radioactive seed serves as a marker to locate the DCIS. It does not kill any abnormal cells. The seed is magnetic, and a special probe is used to help guide the surgeon to the exact location of the tissue that needs to be removed.

I hope that helps.

Kind regards,

Celene

1. Thank you for clarifying