Tag Archives: dcis alternative treatment

Awesome Interview!! Inspiration for DCIS 411 — Informed Choices and Healthy Living Over Fear Fear Fear!

Cynthia Toussant and I discuss how we KNEW IN OUR GUT something wasn’t right with the immediate rush to surgically remove DCIS! Continue reading

Posted in Health | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mis-Diagnosed with DCIS at Age 26 and 38 Weeks Pregnant: How Intuition, Non-stop Research and a 2nd Pathology Opinion Changed My Life

My gut and intuition told me to research my head off and to understand what’s going on. I learned very fast that just because you have a “low grade” “stage zero” breast cancer that doesn’t mean the treatment is less than any other INVASIVE breast cancer. Continue reading

Posted in Health | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

31 Days of “Little Known” FACTS — For Breast Cancer Awareness Month — Day 30 — NO “Survival” Benefit of Aggressive Treatments for DCIS — Women Not Informed

Did you know… Women diagnosed with DCIS, also known as “stage ZERO” breast cancer, are often rushed into extremely aggressive treatments (surgery, radiation and drugs) that actually have no survival benefit… yet this information is often not told to them. … Continue reading

Posted in Health, Options, Research, Resources, Sanity | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

31 Days of “Little Known” FACTS — For Breast Cancer Awareness Month — Day 24 — The Word “Cancer” is Scary & Misleading for DCIS

Did you know… Several breast cancer experts over the last 10+ years have questioned whether the word “carcinoma” should be removed from DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma in Situ). “Because of the noninvasive nature of DCIS, coupled with its favorable prognosis, strong … Continue reading

Posted in Health, Options, Research, Sanity | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Importance of Being Informed, Treated with Compassion, and Advocating for Active Surveillance — Nancy Riopel’s Enlightening DCIS Story

“Please, if you take one thing from my experience, consider the importance of being informed and being willing to advocate for the treatment options that you feel are best for you. I am not DCIS, I am not a ‘tumor’ … Continue reading

Posted in Health, Options, Personal Stories, Sanity, Support | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Thankful for PCORI & Patient-Centered Research

I recently had the opportunity to attend the annual meeting of  PCORI — Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute. Three days of presentations and panel discussions all focused on one recurring theme: Patient voices, preferences, values, experiences, and outcomes matter. I felt … Continue reading

Posted in Health, Options, Personal Stories, Research, Resources, Sanity, Support | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

What is “Low-risk” DCIS & Why is The COMET Study Urgently Needed?

The COMET Study is the nation’s first prospective, randomized clinical trial aimed at resolving an ongoing debate about the best way to manage “low-risk” DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ), also known as “stage zero” breast cancer. “This is a trial … Continue reading

Posted in Health, Options, Research, Resources, Sanity, Support | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

DCIS Decision-Making — What Makes Us Different?

Why is it that a majority of women diagnosed with DCIS choose the path of “standard” aggressive treatment (mastectomy or lumpectomy plus weeks of radiation and years of “prevention” drugs), while a small minority say “NO WAY — this is … Continue reading

Posted in Options, Personal Stories, Sanity | Tagged , , , , , , | 28 Comments

Why the “Standard of Care” Must Change

Despite clear evidence from the most extensive study to date on DCIS — that there is no benefit to surgery, radiation and drugs (“standard of care” treatment for DCIS) — and despite significant harms of these treatments — doctors will most … Continue reading

Posted in Health | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

ACTIVE SURVEILLANCE — DO YOU WISH YOU WOULD HAVE HAD THIS AS A TREATMENT OPTION?

Some doctors are studying whether Active Surveillance (following you closely and not operating on you unless you get cancer) may be a good alternative to surgery for DCIS.  Do you wish you were offered Active Surveillance as a treatment option … Continue reading

Posted in Health | Tagged , , , | 26 Comments