Category Archives: Personal Stories

In 2011, My Doctor Told Me: “Your Breast is Like Spoiled Soup… It’s Not Worth Saving.”

Posted on September 1, 2023 by Donna Pinto

I Proved Her Wrong. (My 2023 Update by Donna Pinto) “Highly suspicious for malignancy,” was written on my mammography report in June 2011. “The pre-cancerous cells might now be INVASIVE CANCER,” my doctor said. I had spent the last 18 … Continue reading →

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DCIS is NOT Breast Cancer — An Online Support Group Leading a Paradigm Shift

Posted on September 14, 2022 by Donna Pinto

A paradigm shift is defined as “an important change that happens when the usual way of thinking about or doing something is replaced by a new and different way.”

DCIS – Is Not Breast Cancer! — an online support group created in 2020 — has quickly attracted over 1.5k women with approximately 25 new requests to join each week. Continue reading →

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“It’s a Way of Living” — Donna’s Checklist

Posted on May 27, 2020 by Donna Pinto

Grateful for the interview today with Deb Hackenberry, facilitator of SHARE’s DCIS online support group… Deb: “If there was one thing you would want women to take away from your DCIS experience and 10+ years of research, what would that … Continue reading →

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DCIS Over-Diagnosis & Over-Treatment: New Facebook Group

Posted on February 27, 2020 by Donna Pinto

Patients, researchers, advocates, journalists and organizations need to work together to understand and communicate better about this serious women’s health issue! Please join a new Facebook Group: DCIS Over-diagnosis and Over-treatment A forum for information, discussion, support, research, education, awareness … Continue reading →

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Breast Cancer “Overdiagnosis” Study Seeks Women for Interviews

Posted on November 27, 2019 by Donna Pinto

Fact Sheet: What is Breast Cancer Overdiagnosis? Our team at the Sydney School of Public Health, Australia, is carrying out a research study to explore women’s awareness of the term ‘overdiagnosis’. We are interested in talking with women anywhere in … Continue reading →

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The Value of Recording Physician Consultations

Posted on November 1, 2019 by Donna Pinto

Recording consultations with physicians is extremely valuable, especially with regards to obtaining results of screening or diagnostic tests, biopsies, surgeries, or discussions about future cancer risks, or potential treatments. Recording the consultation enables: ability to glean important information missed or … Continue reading →

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31 Days of “Little Known” FACTS — For Breast Cancer Awareness Month — Day 27 — Grade “F” in DCIS Communication

Posted on October 27, 2019 by Donna Pinto

Did you know… Some health-care providers get an “F” in communication. Celebrity chef Sandra Lee said her doctors told her DCIS was a “ticking time bomb.” In January, 2010, when I brought an article, Take Carcinoma Out of DCIS and … Continue reading →

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31 Days of “Little Known” FACTS — For Breast Cancer Awareness Month — Day 25 — Unbiased 2nd PATHOLOGY opinion is a MUST

Posted on October 25, 2019 by Donna Pinto

Did you know… Aggressive treatments for DCIS are based on pathology — and 25% may be wrong. This happened to me. I had several opinions and 3 different pathology reports. My gut told me something was not right and I … Continue reading →

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31 Days of “Little Known” FACTS — For Breast Cancer Awareness Month — Day 19 — Celebrities & Mammography Advice

Posted on October 19, 2019 by Donna Pinto

Did you know…. #1. Companies use celebrities to aggressively market 3D mammograms, although there’s no evidence they save lives. In July 2016, Health News Review wrote: Sheryl Crow hawks 3D mammograms with fear and false hope “It may not be … Continue reading →

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31 Days of “Little Known” FACTS — For Breast Cancer Awareness Month — Day 18 — Fear vs Facts

Posted on October 18, 2019 by Donna Pinto

Did you know… Your breasts might kill you? That’s the message put forth by the video below… urging women to get a mammogram every year starting at 40. Where is the information about the risks, harms and limitations of mammography? … Continue reading →

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