title: Eliminating "ductal carcinoma in situ" and "lobular carcinoma in situ" (DCIS and LCIS) terminology in clinical breast practice: The cognitive psychology point of view.
abstract: There is evidence from the literature that the terms "ductal carcinoma in situ" and "lobular carcinoma in situ" (DCIS and LCIS) should be eliminated in clinical breast cancer practice and replaced with the new "ductal intraepithelial neoplasia" (DIN) and "lobular intraepithelial neoplasia" (LIN) terminology. The main purpose of the present article is to expand on this argument from a cognitive psychology perspective and offer suggestions for further research, emphasizing how the elimination of the term "carcinoma" in "in situ" breast cancer diagnoses has the potential to reduce both patient and health care professional confusion and misperceptions that are often associated with the DCIS and LCIS diagnoses, as well as limit the adverse psychological effects of women receiving a DCIS or LCIS diagnosis. We comment on the recent peer-reviewed literature on the clinical implications and psychological consequences for breast cancer patients receiving a DCIS or LCIS diagnosis and we use a cognitive perspective to offer new insight into the benefits of embracing the new DIN and LIN terminology. Using cognitive psychology and cognitive science in general, as a foundation, further research is advocated in order to yield data in support of changing the terminology and therefore, offer a chance to significantly improve the lives and psychological sequelae of women facing such a diagnosis. Typology: Controversies/Short Commentary.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology and Hemato-oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy; Applied Research Division for Cognitive and Psychological Science Unit, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy. Electronic address: gabriella.pravettoni@ieo.it.
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pravettoni
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Baldwin Wallace University, Berea, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Whitney R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Yoder
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology and Hemato-oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy; Applied Research Division for Cognitive and Psychological Science Unit, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Riva
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology and Hemato-oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy; Applied Research Division for Cognitive and Psychological Science Unit, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Ketti
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mazzocco
authors.affiliation: Applied Research Division for Cognitive and Psychological Science Unit, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Arnaboldi
authors.affiliation: Molecular Senology Unit, Senology Division, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Viviana
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Galimberti
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D002285:Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating / Q000523:psychology*; D018275:Carcinoma, Lobular / Q000523:psychology*; D003071:Cognition; D000066498:Emotional Adjustment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009626:Terminology as Topic
keywords: Breast cancer diagnosis; Cognitive psychology; Ductal carcinoma in situ; Heuristics; Lobular carcinoma in situ; Psychological aspects