Carol's Story - The Value of Mammograms

For the past 20 years, Carol Jurczak has received routine mammograms, and they all came out normal-except the one in 1995.

Carol's mammogram results that year revealed increased calcifications, which are small calcium deposits in the breast that can be detected only by mammography (breast X-ray).

Calcifications are divided into two categories: macrocalcifications and microcalcifications. Macrocalcifications are coarse calcium deposits that frequently represent degenerative changes in the breast, such as aging of the breast arteries, old injuries or inflammations. Microcalcifications are tiny specks of calcium in the breast and are markers for breast cancer.

"Calcifications are the key things we look for in a mammogram," explains Mary Cardoza, M.D., General Surgeon at Sutter Delta Medical Center. "Through mammograms, we are often able to detect the formation of breast cancer long before it becomes a lump."

Dr. Cardoza says that if something suspicious is found on a mammogram, a biopsy is performed to determine if the cells are cancerous or non-cancerous. The biopsy involves the removal of a sample of tissue from the breast in order to determine whether it is a cancer or a benign condition.

The Diagnosis
In Carol's case, a biopsy confirmed that she was living with a form of breast cancer known as ductal carcinoma in situ (also known as DCIS or intraductal carcinoma). The good news was that this cancer was found at stage 0, when it is most curable. The cancer cells were inside the ducts, but did not spread through the walls of the ducts into the fatty tissue of the breast. This is the most common type of noninvasive breast cancer, and nearly 100 percent of women diagnosed at this early stage of breast cancer can be cured.

"I couldn't believe that I had breast cancer, not me," recalls Carol who resides in Antioch. "I was in shock when I found out that I was living with breast cancer."

Getting Treatment
Even though her cancer was found early, Carol's treatment options were limited because it appeared that the cancer was scattered throughout her breast. Her best option was to get a mastectomy.

"It's important for women to know that there may be other treatment options available," explains Dr. Cardoza. "Treatment depends upon the particular cancer, the stage of the cancer and a woman's age."

Dr. Cardoza encourages women to get a yearly breast examination by a clinician. She also says that women should examine their breasts once a month when they are least tender, usually seven days after they start menstruating. Women who have entered menopause, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have silicone implants should also examine their breasts once a month.

After Carol found out she had cancer, she received tremendous support from friends, family and church family.

"My husband, Greg, has been incredibly supportive," says Carol. "He kept telling me that any scars I may come home with should not be looked at as scars- but 'life experiences,' like my C-section scar."

Early Detection is the Key
"Breast cancer is a highly treatable disease," says Dr. Cardoza. "The key is to find it early. And that is done through mammograms, breast self-exams and a clinician exam."

Dr. Cardoza also says that the majority of breast cancers occur randomly, with no family history of this disease.

Women who may have a greater risk of developing breast cancer include:

• Women who had their first period earlier than their peer group.
• Women who went through menopause later than their peer group.
• Obesity, especially for women over 50.
• Women who have a family history of breast cancer.
• Women who have not had children.
• Caucasian women are slightly more likely to develop breast cancer than are African American women. But African Americans are more likely to die of this cancer because they are often diagnosed at an advanced stage when breast cancer is harder to treat and cure. Asian, Hispanic, and American Indian women have a lower risk of developing breast cancer.

However, women of all races do develop breast cancer and should have regular exams and mammography. In a study conducted by Sutter Health, Asian women were diagnosed with more severe cancer —at a higher stage of disease when it is less curable—presumably because cultural influences discourage self examination and testing.

Dr. Cardoza also says that women who breastfed their children for more than a year may also have a slightly lower risk of developing breast cancer.

"Breast cancer screening is extremely important," says Carol. "Anyone can get this disease, and I never thought I would be one of them."

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