I’m Davina, from Maryland, and I am a six-year breast cancer survivor. At age 47, I experienced something unexpected during what began as a routine moment in my health journey.
In 2016, a biopsy was performed after my routine mammogram showed a lump. My surgeon initially told me there was only a very small chance of cancer in the tissue, and I had a lumpectomy to remove what we thought was a benign papilloma. But nine days after surgery, everything changed — I received a call that there had been an unexpected surprise: the pathology revealed invasive lobular carcinoma along with lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) in the tissue. Thankfully, my lymph nodes were clear, giving me a strong foundation to move forward.
Once the diagnosis was confirmed, I began a course of radiation therapy, completing 20 sessions to treat the area where the tumor had been. After radiation, I continued my care with three years of tamoxifen, a hormone therapy that helped reduce the risk of recurrence.
Although the diagnosis was unexpected, I chose to approach treatment with resolve and positivity. Understanding what my body was telling me and taking action right away made all the difference in navigating this chapter of my life.
Q1. Who is Davina?
A: Davina is a breast cancer survivor from Maryland who was diagnosed with Stage 1A invasive lobular carcinoma at age 47.
Q2. How was Davina’s breast cancer discovered?
A: Her cancer was found after a routine mammogram led to a biopsy, and surgery revealed unexpected invasive lobular carcinoma.
Q3. What treatment did Davina receive?
A: She underwent a lumpectomy, 20 sessions of radiation therapy, and three years of tamoxifen hormone therapy.
Q4. What type of breast cancer did Davina have?
A: Davina had invasive lobular carcinoma along with lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS), with clear lymph nodes at diagnosis.
Q5. What does Stage 1A breast cancer mean?
A: Stage 1A means the tumor was small and hadn’t spread to nearby lymph nodes, often associated with a strong prognosis when treated early.
Q6. Why is early detection important?
A: Early detection through routine screening, like mammograms, gives people a higher chance of discovering cancer at a stage when treatment can be less intensive and more effective.
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