Study focuses on risks of breast cancer after pre-invasive disease

In a breakthrough study, researchers found that the women who are diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ (known as DCIS) during breast screening go on to experience higher risks of developing breast cancer and of death from breast cancer, compared with general population, finds The study was published in the journal The BMJ today.

DCIS is a disease where malignant breast cells are found but have not spread beyond the milk ducts.

The risks were more than double those of the general population, even for women diagnosed with low or intermediate grade DCIS, and lasted until at least 20 years after diagnosis, say the researchers.

Diagnoses of DCIS have increased substantially in recent years, especially among women attending breast screening programmes.

DCIS isn't immediately life-threatening and does usually have a good prognosis.

But it can increase the risk of developing invasive breast cancer later on.

The extent of this extra risk is uncertain.