My Breast Cancer (DCIS) Story
I share my story
TL;DR
I am thriving to spite a close call with the cookie cutter approach to health provider by our western medical system. I share the situation and my takeaways.
Watch me share my story.
I was diagnosed with a non-invasive pre-cancerous tumor of the breast called DCIS (Ductal carcinoma in situ) in March 2021. It was low grade, type 0, estrogen positive, 5mm in size. My doctor found out from a standard mammogram screening. They did a biopsy and sent the tissue to confirm the diagnosis. I was meeting with the various kinds of oncologists to understand what was going on.
This diagnosis sent me into a total panic. I was feeling completely terrified. I believed based on the way the doctors were treating me that I was going to die and soon. But as time passed and I waited for the next doctor appointment I began to research.
I read 10 plus books on health and countless papers on PubMed. I wanted to know the mechanisms of the disease. What I learned about my type of breast cancer is that it is very similar to diabetes. The cells feed on glucose and various toxic versions of estrogen. The toxic versions can come from the environment such as car exhaust, and chemicals in our cleaning and beauty products. But they also get created by fat cells. Reducing body fat reduces the amount of toxic estrogen. This was a simple mechanism and I started working on it immediately. I used fasting to cut my body fat and over 6 months I lost 30 lbs. I continue to eat in a 12 hour window to maintain my weight. The other aspect of cancer is removing the cells. Our body has cancer cells growing all the time. It also has cancer clean up processes that kill and throw away the cancer cells before they get too big. I looked into this process so I could assist my body in its mechanisms. One of the main clean up processes is called autophagy which occurs through exercise and fasting.
When you combine these it is doubly effective. Doing a longer fast, such as a full Sunday fast, really helps to kick start the autophagy processes.
The standard medical treatment was surgery, radiation and a toxic hormone therapy. I had researched all of these standard of care recommendations for my condition. Because my pre-cancer tumor was a scattering of calcifications instead of a dense tumor, trying to remove it was haphazard. Either the cells would regrow or they would not. Trying to weed them out with a knife didn’t make any sense. There is no evidence that these types of calcifications turn into cancer. The standard of care of removal is just a “Cover my Ass” type of treatment by the medical profession. Radiation treatment would have eliminated the option of a second round of radiation one day if I developed real breast cancer. Tissue is too damaged by radiation to be radiated by two rounds of treatment. I’d rather wait to save that procedure if I ever need it. The third treatment of Tamoxifen was also unnecessary. I got my estrogen and all my hormones tested. They were perfect. Putting me into an early menopause did not make any sense. So I did my research and got completely informed on my situation. I did tons of tests including a full genetic analysis looking for any genetic markers of cancer. I also have no family history of cancer of any kind.
I took responsibility for my own health and decided to do active surveillance with the help of a surgical oncologist at UCSF. Dr. Alvarado sent my biopsied tissue to a lab to get an Oncotype DX DCIS test is a genomic test. It came back with a very low probability of turning into a cancer.
I recently went for my one year follow up and there is no significant change to the calcifications. It hasn’t grown or changed. Dr Alvarado told me I can get another mammogram in 6 months to keep surveillance. I am very excited about this. Am I home free? No! I am thankful for this continual reminder to stay healthy. A few lessons I’d like to leave you with.
1. Each of us is responsible for our own health. We can’t just delegate it to some doctor. They are busy and don’t have time to think deeply about your specific situation.
2. Do your own research. Understand the mechanisms that underly what ever is going on with you. Go on PubMed. Talk to experts who can give you the lingo to use. Ask hard questions to your doctors about the data you are finding. Do not give up.
3. Stand up for your rights to your own body and health. I found that the doctors who first started working with me and found my original diagnosis were very bossy. They tried to scare me into their standard of care procedures. I fell for it at first, but I kept researching and then said, “No.”
4. Take action on what you learn. Make the hard lifestyle changes that you need to survive. Value your own life more than the temporary desires for carnal pleasure. Cutting out carbs and sugar was very hard. Eating only in a 12-hour window was very hard. Exercising and doing yoga everyday was very hard, but I knew my life was worth it, so I did it.
5. Get support. I wasn’t alone in my journey. I had a huge amount of support from friends and family. I made time to connect with them and be vulnerable. I shared what I was learning, and they asked me good questions. In the same vein, avoid anyone who pities you. This is a toxic person, and you need to avoid them. You want smart friends who have love and thoughtful questions, not pity.
I hope sharing my story will encourage everyone who reads it to keep fighting. The western medicine has its value but not when it comes to fixing root causes of disease. Please let me know I you want me to come to your group to share my story.
