Stage Zero Breast Cancer Treatment And Resilience
- America’s Next Top Model host Janice Dickinson, 67, clapped back at mean trolls online who were harsh on her appearance.
- At 61, Dickinson was diagnosed with early-stage ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). Earlier, she lost her mother to cancer.
- When a person has DCIS – stage zero cancer – it means abnormal cells can be found in the breast milk duct and have become cancerous but have not yet metastasized or spread to other parts of the body.
- Typical treatments for DCIS include surgery and radiation.
Dickinson is also a former star of reality shows like America’s Next Top Model and I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!, and she’s not taking any nonsense from online trolls.
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Janice’s Stage Zero Breast Cancer Battle
In 2016, Dickinson was diagnosed at age 61 with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), also known as stage zero breast cancer. The diagnosis came when her doctor discovered a “pea-sized” lump in her right breast; it was during a routine exam.
“I’m always optimistic, initially when the doctor found the lump, it hurt, it became quite painful when you touch it, that’s the point when I knew this is serious,” says Dickinson, speaking with the Daily Mail in 2016. “When the doctor touched this little lump in my right breast, about the size of a pea, and I went bingo, I have cancer.”
Dickinson was ordered to have a mammogram and a biopsy; during these screening measures, it was detected that she had DCIS.
When a person has DCIS, stage zero cancer, it means abnormal cells can be found in the breast milk duct and have become cancerous but have not yet metastasized or spread to other parts of the body.
Dickinson tearfully spoke about her breast cancer with the Daily Mail. She said, “Just two weeks ago I was diagnosed with breast cancer, it’s hard for me to say this, but I have been diagnosed with breast cancer.”
She continued, reflecting on the emotional shock of her diagnosis. “It’s still quite shocking,” said Dickinson. “Today I got very scared… I just get very scared and it hit me. But I am not gonna let that define me, the fear. I’m going to get through this.”
Dickinson reportedly treated her DCIS with a lumpectomy and radiation therapy.
In an earlier interview with SurvivorNet, Dr. Ann Partridge, an oncologist at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, reflects on current conversations in the medical field around DCIS.
She tells SurvivorNet, “So stage zero breast cancer, which is technically known as Ductal Carcinoma In Situ, or DCIS, is a really interesting clinical dilemma these days. So it’s a pre-cancer, technically.”
“It’s something that may turn into invasive breast cancer,” says Dr. Partridge. “And invasive breast cancer is the kind of breast cancer that has the potential to not only grow in your breast, but to spread other places in the body and ultimately hurt someone more than just needing a breast surgery.”
She continues, “But DCIS or that stage zero breast cancer is, in and of itself, not necessarily going to turn into that invasive breast cancer. And so many have questioned, well, do we actually really need to do surgery on something that may or may not turn into a problem? Given that, we’ve actually started planning and are running trials.”
I Have Stage Zero Breast Cancer: What Should I Do?
Screening for Breast Cancer
A mammogram detected Dickinson’s DCIS. It’s important to undergo regular screenings for breast cancer and to get your mammogram if you’re overdue. The current guidelines from the American Cancer Society (ACS) say that women aged 45 to 54 with a regular risk of breast cancer should get mammograms annually.
For women with an elevated risk of breast cancer (who have a family history of the disease or carry the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation), you should begin screening before age 45. Speak with family members about your family cancer history – it could save your life. Performing self-exams in the shower or at home is another good way to stay on top of breast cancer screenings; these should be done in addition to – not in place of – mammograms.
Breast cancer is screened for via mammogram, which looks for lumps in the breast tissue and other signs of existing cancer, or cancer in its earliest stages. If a worrisome lump is detected, your radiologist or doctor will advise you on the next steps, which typically include a breast biopsy.
When Should I Get a Mammogram?
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