As 2013 comes to a close, I want to express my heart-felt gratitude for all of the wonderful women who have contributed their wisdom, support, resources and personal stories on this site.
Four years ago, I felt like I was completely alone in my relentless questioning of the “standard of care” regarding DCIS. Yet I knew there had to be many more women like me who were feeling the same uncertainty and wishing for better, healthier and saner solutions. I knew other women must be searching like I was.
I had no idea how to create a blog or website, yet in December of 2011, two years into my DCIS journey, I was “highly motivated.” I felt compelled to share my personal experiences, thoughts and resources. DCIS 411 was created in less than a month. My goal was to be the website I had so desperately searched for, yet did not find.
It’s been four years for me now on this wild DCIS roller coaster ride and while I am still searching for better, saner solutions, I am so grateful for the many enlightening discoveries along the way. One of my best “finds” was Sandie Walters who created a simple website called “DCIS Without Rads.” Over the last two years, Sandie and I have shared many emails, phone calls and resources. Together we created DCIS Redefined: Dilemmas, Choices and Integrative Solutions. May this website be one of your great “finds” along your DCIS journey.
With great gratitude,
Donna
DCIS 411 
You have been among my greatest finds in 2013, Donna. Many thanks and blessings to you for reaching out as you have. Your blog, along with Sandie’s, helped me to find a saner solution this past summer as well, and you’re both a treasure to me. May “DCIS Refined” help countless more women in the years to come. Here’s to a happy, healthy 2014!
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Dear Donna and Sandie~
Everything you two did for us really touched, affected, helped and improved our lives in such a positive way by giving us more options, solutions, and hope! And for letting each of us be who we are as individuals and to connect with others that can identify and relate to our situation. My life completely turned around for the better because of your websites and I am humbly grateful to the both of you for sharing your stories/information with all of us.
I know I wouldn’t have had the courage to stand up and question the medical professionals and look for other options if I hadn’t stumbled upon your website!!! Donna you, and Sandie have been our inspiration and opened the door of knowledge for us to be better equipped and feel empowered when making our own personal choices!
Wishing you continued success and for more ‘good deeds’ to be accomplished via your new website “DCIS Redefined”. Love and appreciate you both and all the other courageous DCIS sisters that so honestly and selflessly shared their stories with us. Happy, Healthy, Joyfilled and Successful New Year 2014 to everyone!
Love & Blessings in being our Guiding Angels~
Kat Ü
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Dear Donna, this year I am most grateful for you. And your 2 sites Donnas Journey and the new one. Thank you for being a bright light not only in my concerns w DCIS but for helping me find ways to lower the intense stress I am having with family issues unrelated to my diagnosis. I will be ordering some of the visualization tapes recommended by you. I also would like to thank you for your reply regarding my questions about the dangers of biopsy and spreading the “precancerous cells ” of DCIS. Your comments relieved my worries. I also have a high stress job which I love so I have to learn how to manage my stress. Again thanks and blessings to you in the new year
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Dear Donna..could you direct mr to the response about biopsy and spreading of the cells? I had a biopsy recently and felt afterwards that I should have waited and gotten more information. Thanks.
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Dr. Lagios told me that you could chop up DCIS and it does not have the molecular structure to “spread.” It needs to go through another molecular change. This is reassuring (especially if you are left with positive margins after excisional biopsy/lumpectomy). If you google it, you’ll find many conventional sites debunking the “myth” of cancer spreading though surgery or biopsy, but there are also articles about biopsies “seeding” malignant cancer cells and spreading cancer such as this one: http://www.naturalhealth365.com/natural_healing/biopsy.html.
Milly, don’t worry about what you should have done. Move forward with what you know now and be glad that you are taking the time to get more informed before any future decisions.
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