Dr. Streicher’s Inside Information: Menopause, Midlife, and More S4 Ep178: The Impact of Hormone Therapy on DCIS with Dr. Swati Kulkarni
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Jun 12, 2025 In this engaging discussion, Dr. Swati Kulkarni, a leading surgical researcher at Northwestern University, uncovers new insights on hormone therapy for women with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). She explains what DCIS is and its risks, including potential progression to invasive cancer. The conversation delves into a groundbreaking study using conjugated estrogens and bazodoxifene, showing promising results in reducing cancer cell development. Also explored are the challenges of recruiting participants and the impact of hormone therapy on quality of life, providing hopeful avenues for breast cancer management.
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What DCIS Actually Is
- DCIS is ductal carcinoma in situ and often found on screening mammogram as calcifications.
- It is non-invasive (stage 0) because abnormal cells remain inside the milk ducts and cannot metastasize.
Progression Risk And Timeline
- If untreated, 25–50% of DCIS cases progress to invasive cancer over many years.
- The average time from DCIS diagnosis to invasive cancer in retrospective studies was about nine years.
Standard DCIS Treatment
- Standard treatment for DCIS is surgical removal, sometimes followed by radiation or anti-estrogen drugs.
- DCIS is generally not treated with medication alone; surgery is the typical first-line therapy.
