Melanin & Pink Ribbons

The terminology used while one is an active breast cancer patient can be mind-boggling. As customary in medicine, there is a language unique to breast cancer. Understanding what is being said to you is key and never leave a doctor’s office without full knowledge of your diagnosis or treatment plan. I will simplify this information, so it is easy to understand. Stage 0 breast cancer is:

• Non-invasive which means it has not spread from the original location
• Commonly known as Carcinoma In Situ and often found in the lining of the milk duct but has not spread to the lymph node, bloodstream, or surrounding tissue
• There are 2 forms of Carcinoma In Situ known as Ductal Carcinoma In Situ which means the cancer cells are in the original location and Pagets Disease of the nipple which is rare and involves the skin of the nipple and often the areola with tumors in the breast also

Once the tumor is removed it is sent to pathology who review the slides prepared from the mass and they are graded according to this scale:

• Grade 1- cells look normal and grow slowly
• Grade 2- cells look normal and grow at a moderate pace, faster than Grade 1
• Grade 3- cells look different and grow quickly and you have a higher chance of recurrence in the future

Treatment for Stage 0 fighters includes surgery/lumpectomy, radiation to destroy any remaining cancer cells and hormone therapy. Chemo is not usually required at this stage. The positive news is the 5-year survival rate is 99%! That is good statistical odds and reinforces the need for early detection and regular screening. Make sure you pass this information on to someone who needs it, it takes a village.