Stage 0 Invasive Ductal Carcinoma: Erica's Survivor Story
This breast cancer diagnosis at a glance
- Stage at diagnosis
- Stage 0
- Subtype
- Invasive Ductal Carcinoma
- Biomarkers
- BRCA-negative
- Sex
- Female
- Treatment
- surgery, reconstruction, surveillance and supportive care
- Outcome
- Cancer-Free / NED
Treatment course, step by step
- Biopsy confirmed Stage 0 DCIS
- Erica chose double mastectomy instead of lumpectomy, radiation, hormone therapy, or observation
- Surgery removed both breasts and nipples and included lymph-node testing
- Reconstruction used tissue expanders, then permanent implants with fat grafting
- Final 3D nipple tattoo was done for closure
- Chemotherapy, radiation, and hormone therapy were discussed but not received in this story.
What happened, in summary
Erica was diagnosed with Stage 0 ductal carcinoma in situ in 2018 after about 10 years of close breast monitoring. Her mother had died of breast cancer more than 20 years earlier, and although Erica’s BRCA testing was negative, repeated mammograms, ultrasounds, MRIs, and calcification findings kept her on high alert. A routine 6-month mammogram eventually led to her first biopsy, which confirmed DCIS. Erica was offered a wide range of choices, including observation, lumpectomy, radiation, hormone therapy, and mastectomy. Because of her mother’s history and her own fear of recurrence, she chose a double mastectomy. She also chose to have her nipples removed rather than leave any tissue behind. The surgery included removal of both breasts, lymph-node testing, and the start of reconstruction with under-muscle tissue expanders. Over several months, the expanders were filled with saline, then replaced with permanent implants during a second surgery that also included fat grafting. The final step was a 3D nipple tattoo, which gave her emotional closure. As of August 2024, Erica described her body and mind as cancer-free and said the double mastectomy gave her peace from the constant fear of recurrence.
Where this story comes from
This is a lay summary of an account first published by The Patient Story. Read the original in full
How we source and attribute stories Accuracy and limitations
These are lay summaries of published cancer stories, for information only. No two cancers behave the same way, and nothing here predicts your own diagnosis or replaces advice from your oncology team. Read the full disclaimer