Sadly, it’s still “real” cancer, most breast cancers start as DCIS in Situ before becoming invasive when they’re caught. I’m glad she found it early and hope her course of tx will be as smooth as possible. I was treated with chemo for invasive ductal carcinoma caught at stage 2 in January at age 44. Chemo for it all, surgery confirmed that. Restaged to stage 0, because I still have to do radiaton and continue infusions of targeted therapy all to prevent reoccurrence. Because DCIS presents in lots of clusters of calcifications and not a solid tumor, it often requires mastectomy to remove it (whereas with a tumor, chemo can shrink it and then lumpectomy can remove the tumor bed). And all the other meds age you and create their own problems (neuropathy, early menopause, heart problems, you name it). Breast cancer sucks so badly and the odds used to be/currently are 1/8 women (and men can also get it), I wonder if for our generation it will be even higher. I have no family history of BC, no genetic mutations (like BRCA), not overweight, non smoker for a long time, etc. Even now cancer free (which of course I’m grateful for!) the rest of the year will be consumed with treatment and recovery. Being under 50 makes me a "young" cancer patient but so many are getting dx'd in their 30's and even 20's now, it's heartbreaking.