DCIS 411 Becomes a Nonprofit
From Patient Advocacy to Empowerment
What began with one woman questioning the DCIS treatment paradigm became a growing community. Now DCIS 411 is officially a nonprofit dedicated to information, advocacy, and informed choice.
It started with a diagnosis. Then came the questions. Then a community. Now, a nonprofit. 🧡
In 2010, Donna Pinto was diagnosed with DCIS.
Instead of simply accepting the standard treatment path, she began asking questions about DCIS biology, treatment, lifestyle, imaging, and what the research actually showed.
Those questions became a mission: women deserve information and choices before making potentially life-altering decisions about DCIS.
A Movement Begins
In 2010, Donna created Donna’s Choice: Health, Wealth, and Wisdom from the Inside Out, building a Facebook group community around health, wellness, and informed decision-making.
December 2011 — The Beginning of DCIS 411
411 = information. What would eventually become DCIS 411 began as Donna Pinto’s personal blog in December 2011, fueled by her 2010 DCIS diagnosis and her determination to understand what she had been told.
Donna began researching beyond the standard treatment narrative, seeking second opinions, connecting with DCIS experts, questioning overtreatment, and exploring nutrition, lifestyle, and breast imaging.
Her early posts documented that journey and shared what she was learning with other women facing DCIS.
One woman asking questions became one woman helping other women ask theirs.
That personal blog became the foundation for more than 15 years of patient-led education, community building, research, and advocacy. DCIS411.com has grown into a resource with more than 500,000 views, nearly 300,000 visitors, and almost 2,000 comments from people engaging with the information and conversation around DCIS.
On October 21, 2017, she created the Facebook group DCIS – Diet, Lifestyle + Safe Imaging, giving women with DCIS a place to learn, question, and connect.
DCIS — Diet, Lifestyle + Safe Imaging
Then, on June 22, 2020, came DCIS Is Not Cancer, a community created to challenge assumptions surrounding the diagnosis and encourage deeper conversations about what DCIS is, how it behaves, and whether every woman needs immediate treatment.
DCIS Is Not Cancer: An Online Support Group Leading a Paradigm Shift
From Facebook Groups to DCIS 411
Over the years, the questions became bigger.
Women needed more than a support group. They needed research translated into plain language, information about clinical trials and active monitoring, better understanding of breast imaging, questions to ask their doctors, and access to perspectives beyond the conventional treatment narrative.
In 2025, Yelena Wells joined the DCIS 411 team, bringing her background in communications, marketing, research, business development, and patient advocacy. Together, Donna and Yelena have continued expanding DCIS 411’s educational resources, research, outreach, and community.
Our mission is to bring together science, research, breast imaging, wellness, and support so women can better understand DCIS and participate meaningfully in decisions about their care.
Facts, not fear.
Information is power.
Informed consent is nonnegotiable.
August 21, 2026: DCIS 411 Becomes an Official Nonprofit
Today, we are proud to announce another major milestone:
On August 21, 2026, DCIS 411 was officially incorporated as a California nonprofit public benefit corporation. We’re excited to begin this work and look forward to sharing more as we grow. Stay tuned for updates on our programs, resources, and ways to get involved.
DCIS 411 Nonprofit Team Includes:
Donna Pinto, Founder & Executive Director of DCIS 411
Yelena Wells, Director of Marketing & Patient Advocacy
Glenn Pinto, Director
Maya Sauhta, Director
CourtneyThomasson, Director
Our 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status is currently pending, so donations are not yet tax-deductible. We will update our community as soon as that status is confirmed.
With Gratitude 🧡
Building a nonprofit takes a community, and we’re grateful to the many people who helped make this milestone possible through monetary donations.
Special thanks to Ilene Freeman Services for guiding us through the nonprofit process and helping expedite the paperwork that brought DCIS 411 to life as an official nonprofit.
And special thanks to Stina Kennedy Creative for bringing the DCIS 411 brand to life through creative logo design and branding.
We’re grateful for their expertise, support, and belief in what we’re building.
This is only the beginning. 🧡
Help Us Build What Comes Next
As a new nonprofit, we need your help.
Donations will support:
- Research and conference participation
- Educational materials and outreach
- Media and advocacy outreach
- Website and social media research updates
- Continued support for our DCIS communities
🧡 Help Us Empower Women
If you believe women facing DCIS deserve information, options, and a voice in their own healthcare decisions, please support DCIS 411 as we build the next chapter.
One diagnosis started the questions.
Thousands of women have joined the conversation.
Now we’re building the organization to take it further.
DCIS 411 🧡
Facts, not fear. Information is power. Informed consent is nonnegotiable. Women deserve better. Women deserve DCIS 411.