Diagnosis: Early-Stage Breast Cancer (Ep. 1)
Join me as I document my DCIS (Stage 0) diagnosis at 40 years old.
My goal is to share my experience and knowledge to help inform others about the prevention and treatment of this disease.
In the Fall of 2023, I received a diagnosis of a DCIS, also called early-detected Stage 0 breast cancer. I’d like to start by saying I feel incredibly fortunate to have found these findings early and in a highly treatable stage, with the five-year survival rate of Stage 0 breast cancer being up to 99% with interventions in place. That said, hearing the word carcinoma or cancer in any context is quite jarring; it takes a few minutes for the dust to settle. But as my favorite mantra says: “Keep Calm and Carry On” because life stops for no one, so best to keep moving forward!
As a writer, researcher and content enthusiast, I couldn’t keep myself away from documenting this experience if I tried. So, what I’d like to do here is share the information and experiences I’m accumulating along the way, with the hope that something may be useful to any other person pursuing the prevention and treatment of this disease.
What I’ll be sharing will be the likes of:
The preventative recommendations from my healthcare professionals,
the ins and outs of navigating the information and treatments,
and the ways in which I am keeping calm and carrying on
I’ll also bring you along as I continue to find out more information. The process is a bit slow, and the facts and treatment plans trickle in; the puzzle (right now) is not yet complete.
I will ask that you please always check with your healthcare provider regarding any information you find here. I am by no means an authority on this topic; these are personal experiences and information specific to my diagnosis and treatment plans.
With that being said, let’s talk a bit about a DCIS or ductal carcinoma in situ.
So, what is it? And what does Stage 0 mean? These are benign (non-malignant), abnormal cells in the breast with cancerous characteristics, classified as carcinoma. They are referred to as a “ductal carcinoma in situ” (DCIS) since the cells reside in the breast's milk ducts. Stage 0 represents the carcinoma being “in situ” or “in its original place,” not having broken outside the cell linings.
According to the site breastcancer.org, the 2023 predictions for breast cancer among American women were 297,790 cases, with 55,720 of these being DCIS. For American men, there were 2,800 expected new cases of breast cancer. Worldwide, breast cancer accounts for 12.5% of all new annual cancer cases, making it the most common cancer in the world and the number 1 killer of women.
Source: https://www.breastcancer.org/facts-statistics
The treatment for DCIS is evolving, with a more proactive approach being implemented, although it can still be very patient-specific. A general protocol is surgery to remove the carcinoma and its margins, followed by localized radiation and hormone therapy. There are a significant number of Stage 0 breast cancers that do advance and can be later classified as Stage 1 or higher; therefore, early detection and treatment are proving to be vital.
That’s it for now, but I’ll be back!
As always, thanks for being here.
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Take care & continue creating,
