Navigating Early Stage Breast Cancer
- Actress Constance Zimmer, 55, revealed she privately navigated a stage 0 breast cancer diagnosis, ultimately finding emotional relief when a doctor supported her preference for breast‑conserving surgery.
- After choosing a lumpectomy over a mastectomy, Zimmer says she is now in remission and “cancer-free.”
- Stage zero breast cancer, or ductal carcinoma in situ, is abnormal cells that line the ducts in the breast. This type of cancer is non-invasive and is highly treatable if caught in its early stages.
- The surgery typically takes about an hour and is outpatient, meaning a patient can go home the same day. “It’s abnormal to have a lot of pain after a lumpectomy,” says Dr. Sarah Cate, Chief of Breast Surgery at Stamford Hospital.
- To further help you on your cancer journey, explore SurvivorNet’s proprietary AI tool, “My Health Questions.” This powerful resource, embedded across the SurvivorNet website, was built to bridge that gap by offering on-demand explanations of treatment options, clinical trials, side effects, insurance concerns, and more.
Earlier this year, doctors told her she had DCIS, also known as stage 0 breast cancer. “The silence was deafening,” the Love Story and Entourage star shared in an Instagram post.
Zimmer kept the diagnosis close, sharing it only with her immediate family. “I had to call my husband and get home to tell our daughter in person,” she said.
The emotional fallout was intense. “The mental toll that followed was overwhelming,” she admitted. And soon, she had to confront the next challenge — choosing a treatment path.
“As I began talking to many more doctors… most suggested the quickest way to get this mass out ASAP, which was a mastectomy,” she explained.
A mastectomy removes the entire breast, and doctors weigh factors like tumor size, biology, and family history when determining whether breast‑conserving surgery is an option.
Zimmer wasn’t sure that was the path she wanted. “What if that’s not what I want? What if I want to save my boob instead?” she recalled. Eventually, one doctor offered an alternative: a lumpectomy.
“I think we can try a lumpectomy; I feel confident I can get it out,” the doctor told her.
WATCH: Recovering from a Lumpectomy
A lumpectomy removes the tumor and a small margin of surrounding tissue while preserving most of the breast. “A lumpectomy is typically about an hour,” says breast surgical oncologist Dr. Sarah Cate.
“You go to sleep after the IV goes in, and then I make a small incision, remove the cancer, and use plastic surgery techniques to reshape the tissue so it looks nice.”
Zimmer said that the doctor was the first to make her feel truly heard. “She made me feel like what I wanted mattered, and that made me weep with joy.”
After undergoing the procedure, Zimmer says she is now in remission — and proudly “cancer‑free.”
Expert Resources for Breast Cancer Patients
Understanding Early-Stage Breast Cancer and What Comes Next
Early-stage breast cancer means the tumor is small and hasn’t spread to nearby lymph nodes. According to medical oncologist Dr. Elizabeth Comen, the first step is usually surgery to remove the cancer. This may involve a lumpectomy, often followed by radiation therapy to reduce the risk of recurrence.
However, treatment isn’t one-size-fits-all. Factors like age, tumor size, family history, and personal preference may influence whether radiation is needed or if a patient chooses a more aggressive approach, such as a mastectomy—removal of the entire breast. After surgery, a pathologist examines the tissue under a microscope to help determine the next steps in treatment.
WATCH: Understanding Early Stage Breast Cancer
Diagnostic testing plays a critical role in shaping your care plan. If a mammogram or clinical breast exam reveals something abnormal, your care team may recommend:
- Diagnostic mammogram and breast ultrasound to get a closer look at the breast and nearby lymph nodes
- MRI scans for additional imaging detail
- Biopsy of suspicious areas, including lymph nodes, to confirm cancer
- Tumor marker testing to identify hormone receptors and proteins that influence treatment options
- Additional imaging to check for any signs of metastatic disease
Once all this information is gathered, your cancer is staged—based on tumor size, lymph node involvement, and whether it has spread. Staging helps guide treatment decisions, while hormone receptor and protein marker tests reveal how the cancer behaves and which therapies may be most effective.
Your healthcare team will consider all of these factors—alongside your personal health, values, and goals—to create a treatment plan tailored to you.
Cancer as a Lifelong Journey and Sometimes a Wake‑Up Call
For many patients, cancer becomes a long‑term companion, not a single moment in time; hence, the cancer experience from diagnosis to treatment and into survivorship is considered a journey.
“Any patient with a new diagnosis of bladder cancer or any type of cancer needs to know that this is going to be a lifelong process,” Dr. Alexandra Drakaki, medical director of the Genitourinary Oncology Program at UCLA, says.
Dr. Drakaki says beneath the surface, there is something deeper in that journey. It creates an extended family among fellow survivors and caregivers who understand the visible and noticeable aspects of a diagnosis and the quiet parts often away from wandering eyes.
“Oftentimes, I tell my patients that their cancer could be a blessing because it gives more awareness of how they want to spend their life.”
We often hear from patients who explain how they gain an added sense of gratitude after a diagnosis. Life milestones such as birthdays, graduations, the birth of a child, or a wedding are all examples of life experiences that gain added value for patients and their loved ones.
The added awareness can also reshape priorities, relationships, and the way patients choose to live each day. However, as patients often reshape their perspective on life following a diagnosis, their medical team’s goal remains focused.
“We should always go with a goal of cure or prolonged response,” Dr. Drakaki says.
Aligning Treatment With What Matters Most to You
One of the most important conversations Dr. Drakaki has with new patients begins with a simple question: What is your goal?
Some patients prioritize longevity at all costs. Others value quality of life above everything else.
“Some people will say, ‘I’d rather have less time on earth but a better quality of life.’ And there are others who want to stay around as long as possible. So we need to make sure that we merge our goals.”
Cancer care is not just about eliminating disease; it’s about honoring the whole person.
“Our goal is to treat and cure cancer, while the patient’s goal is not just to be cancer‑free, but to avoid lifelong complications and toxicities from treatment.”
A Diagnosis Is Not the End, It’s the Beginning of a New Conversation
Dr. Drakaki’s message is ultimately one of clarity and empowerment: cancer is common, survivable, and increasingly manageable. Patients have more options, more tools, and more agency than ever before.
Above all, hold onto hope because there is always a path forward.
To further help you on your cancer journey, explore SurvivorNet’s proprietary AI tool, “My Health Questions.”
WATCH: How One Cancer Survivor and Her Sister Used “My Health Questions” to Navigate Care
This powerful resource, embedded across the SurvivorNet website, was built to bridge that gap by offering on-demand explanations of treatment options, clinical trials, side effects, insurance concerns, and more. Users can ask questions conversationally, either by typing or using their voice, and receive answers tailored to their individual profiles. If patients don’t know where to start, we provide prompt questions to get them started.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
