Stage I Invasive Ductal Carcinoma: Julie's Patient Story
This breast cancer diagnosis at a glance
- Stage at diagnosis
- Stage I
- Subtype
- Invasive Ductal Carcinoma
- Sex
- Female
- Treatment
- surgery, radiation and surveillance
- Outcome
- Care Ongoing
Treatment course, step by step
- Partial mastectomy was performed.
- Proton radiation therapy was delivered twice daily for five days.
- Annual mammography and breast self-checks continued after treatment.
What happened, in summary
Julie Martin had recently received a normal mammogram when her sister called to say she had stage 2 breast cancer. Because Julie also had dense breast tissue, the new family history prompted her to return to her doctor and request additional testing. Imaging found a very small stage I ductal breast cancer.
Early detection gave Julie less extensive treatment options. She underwent partial mastectomy and, after healing, received proton radiation twice a day for five days instead of a longer conventional-radiation schedule. She reported no meaningful interruption to her physical activity and was able to play golf after the treatment week.
Julie continued yearly mammograms and breast self-checks. She encouraged others to understand their family history, follow screening recommendations, and advocate for additional evaluation when a new risk factor emerges.
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