The research was presented on Dec. 6, 2018, at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. Read the abstract of “A randomized placebo
controlled phase III trial of low dose tamoxifen for the prevention of
recurrence in women with operated hormone sensitive breast ductal or
lobular carcinoma in situ.”
Watch Marisa Weiss, M.D., chief medical officer of Breastcancer.org, discuss the TAM-01 study and what the findings mean for you.
Breast intraepithelial neoplasia refers to a group of non-invasive conditions where abnormal cells are found in specific areas of the
breast. A neoplasia is a collection of abnormal cells. Intraepithelial
cells are cells that form the surface or lining of an organ, such as the
breast ducts or lobules (the milk-producing gland at the end of the
ducts). Non-invasive means the abnormal cells haven’t spread from the
milk ducts or lobules into any healthy surrounding breast tissue.
Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)
When the abnormal cells are in the milk ducts, the growth is called ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). DCIS isn’t life-threatening, but having
DCIS can increase the risk of developing an invasive breast cancer
later on. When you have had DCIS, you are at higher risk for the DCIS
coming back or for developing a new, invasive breast cancer compared to a
person who has never had DCIS.
Atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH)
With atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH), there are more cells than usual in the lining of the breast duct. The cells are abnormal, but not
as abnormal as they would be in a diagnosis of DCIS. ADH is considered a
benign breast condition that is linked to a moderate increase in the
risk of invasive breast cancer.
Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS)
When the abnormal cells are in the lobules, the growth is called lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS). LCIS is much less common than DCIS.
Despite the fact that its name includes the term “carcinoma,” LCIS is
not a true breast cancer. Rather, LCIS is an indication that a person is
at higher-than-average risk for developing invasive breast cancer at
some point in the future.
