In 2005, I was a healthy 44 year old women. I had been told for years that I had very dense, fibrocystic tissue in both breasts. On May 11th that year at my annual mammogram, using standard and special views including magnification views, a calcified area was found in my right breast. I was scheduled for a stereotactic core biopsy appointment May 16th and the diagnosis was DCIS or Ductal Carcino In Situ. It was a VERY SMALL, estrogen-positive tumor. Focally, there was DCIS, overall involving less than 10% of the biopsy material (a 0.3 cm focus and a 0.2 cm focus). No invasive malignancy was identified in the needle core biopsy material sampled.

On May 26th, a lumpectomy was performed in the right breast.  It was recommended that I begin 6 weeks of radiation treatment to the right breast after healing was completed.  I chose to get a second opinion.  Another group of doctors encouraged me to join a research group and have the computer determine whether or not to do radiation.  I did not feel comfortable with that option.  After consulting other professionals and reading as much as I could regarding radiation, I returned to my original treatment location to plan for my 6 week radiation treatment. 

It began in September 2005 and finished in early November 2005.  I had very little difficulty with the

radiation and did not feel tired or have significant skin irritation.  I was referred to an oncologist and will complete 5 years of care with him including mammograms and check-ups every 6 months and this spring I will be moved up to yearly mammograms once again. 

I began taking the recommended 5 years of tamoxifen in January 2006 but after 9 months the side effects that were so uncomfortable, I chose to discontinue the medication and have never taken it again.  I had a very regular menstrual cycle up until taking the tamoxifen and it caused my cycle to stop.  I had sleep disturbances with hot flashes, weight gain, and irritability. Within a short time of getting off the tamoxifen, I returned to a regular monthly cycle and felt much better. 

In May 2006 a biopsy was recommended in my left breast after my annual mammogram.  This biopsy was benign. It did cause a lot of emotional stress. I did not want to repeat last year’s treatment on my left breast.

Since then, I have become even more aware of my nutrition and have avoided many foods that contain soy or foods that “drive” a women’s estrogen levels.  The months before I developed this tumor I had started to use soy milk in my coffee and for other things.  I am suspicious that it may have “driven” my small tumor but I will never know for sure.  I try to eat a balanced diet, organic when possible, avoiding as much red meat and alcohol as possible.