Do you have questions about Stage 0 Breast Cancer? Let's talk about it!

When the doctor tells you that you have 'Stage 0 Breast Cancer', you probably have a lot of questions and fears coming to your mind, right? It's normal for things like "Does this really mean I have cancer?" and "Is this dangerous?" to come to mind. So today, let's talk about this very simply, in a way that you can understand, as if you were talking to a friend.

What exactly is this 'phase 0'?

This is actually a bit of a complicated topic. Some doctors consider this to be the very early stage of breast cancer. Others think it's a 'precancer' that can develop into cancer.

Simply put, cancer is a condition in which cells in the body divide abnormally and uncontrollably. These cells can also invade surrounding healthy tissue. However, in Stage 0 Breast Cancer , these abnormal cells are still only inside the milk ducts of the breast. They have not yet spread (invasive) into surrounding tissue. This means that this is a less advanced and very early stage than Stage 1.

There are two main types of this condition:

1. Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS): When we talk about Stage 0 Breast Cancer, we often mean this condition. Here, the abnormal cells are only inside the milk ducts. They have not spread to the fatty tissue that makes up most of the breast. The exact cause of this is not yet known. Most people do not experience any symptoms. However, sometimes these abnormal cells can develop into cancer that spreads in the future. But there is no way to say for sure whether or not that will happen.

2. Noninvasive Paget's disease of the nipple: This is a very rare form of breast cancer.

Are there any symptoms of this condition?

Most of the time, Stage 0 Breast Cancer doesn't show any symptoms. But sometimes, certain signs may appear. Let's take a look at what they are.

How do you recognize this?

Because there are often no symptoms, the best way to detect Stage 0 Breast Cancer is through regular screening. Mammograms are the most common way to detect this condition. In fact, more than 90% of DCIS cases are found through screening tests. That's why doctors advise women to get screened at an early age.

Who is at higher risk for this condition?

The risk factors for Stage 0 Breast Cancer are very similar to the risk factors for regular breast cancer. Let's take a look at what they are. Having one or more of these factors doesn't mean you will definitely develop the disease, but it does mean that your risk is slightly higher.

What are the treatments?

Once you are diagnosed with DCIS, your test report will include a 'grade'. Nuclear grade 3 is the type that is most likely to spread, and grade 1 is the type that is least likely to spread. Your cancer cells will also be tested to see if they have estrogen receptors. If they are ER-positive (ER+) , this means the cancer is likely to grow more slowly.

Along with all of this, your doctor may also suggest you undergo genetic testing.

What you do next depends on all of these factors, as well as your personal preferences. Most specialists believe that it is better to get some treatment. Because even though Stage 0 cancer does not spread, it can change in the future, they believe that it is better to be safe than sorry.

Common treatments for DCIS include:

• Surgery: For small DCIS tumors, a lumpectomy, which removes the abnormal cells and a small amount of surrounding breast tissue, may be performed. Some people choose to have a mastectomy, which removes the entire breast. Breast reconstruction surgery may then be performed if necessary.
• Radiation Therapy: This is usually done after a lumpectomy. Radiation therapy helps destroy any abnormal cells that were not removed during surgery and reduces the risk of cancer coming back.
• Hormone Therapy: This treatment after surgery can help prevent new cancer from developing in both breasts.

Is it better to watch and wait without treatment?

This is a very sensitive and important issue. About a third of people with DCIS have a chance of developing invasive cancer in the future. Therefore, some doctors may recommend a 'watch and wait' approach, with frequent testing, rather than immediate treatment.

This is controversial. Imagine, if you had surgery (perhaps with radiation therapy) all at once, you could be protected from developing cancer that would never spread. On the other hand, you could also be undergoing treatment that was not really necessary.

What is the recovery rate for this condition?

Here's the good news. If you have Stage 0 Breast Cancer, your chances of recovery and overall survival are much higher than those with Stage III or IV cancer. This is because the disease has not yet spread to other parts of the body.

The 5-year relative survival rate for people with 'local' breast cancer (i.e., cases where the abnormal cells are still in the breast, such as Stage 0) is 99% . Simply put, this means that someone diagnosed with Stage 0 cancer has a 99% chance of surviving the next 5 years, just as someone without cancer.

About 1 in 5 newly diagnosed breast cancers is DCIS. But almost everyone with the condition can be completely cured. It is very rare for DCIS to come back after treatment.

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