Dr. Kuerer on Challenges With Treating DCIS

Henry M. Kuerer, MD, PhD, professor of Surgery, PH and Fay Etta Robinson Distinguished Professor in Research, Breast Surgical Oncology, executive director, Breast Programs, director, Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship Training Program, Department of Surgical Oncology, Division of Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses the challenges associated with treating patients with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS).

The biggest challenge with this disease is that patients with DCIS become fearful of their disease progressing, Kuerer explains. However, if patients are closely followed with proper imaging tools, it will be more likely that oncologists will be able to detect a progression of disease.

However, oncologists do not detect progression of disease in 20% of patients but with the use of ongoing clinical trials, Kuerer hopes that disease in these patients will not be clinically evident or that these patients will not need to be managed with endocrine therapy.