Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS) and Natural Progesterone
The name - ductal carcinoma in situ, meaning "a cancer within the duct" - is, according to Dr John Lee and Dr David Zava, ambiguous. The in situ means the pathologists saw abnormal cells scattered here and there throughout a field of normal cells. Literally the phrase means "in place," indicating no penetration of the deeper layers of cells. But invasive or infiltrating carcinoma, by its very definition, invade the deeper tissue, while DSIC is contained within the duct. If DCIS becomes even the tiniest bit invasive, then it’s automatically no longer considered DCIS.
DCIS is generally detected by a mammogram. Cancer cells inside the ducts appear on the mammogram, and may appear along with tiny specks or calcifications - the buildup of material left from dead cancer cells.
There are many grades of DCIS, most of which are virtually benign, but a few of which have a slightly higher risk than normal of leading to invasive breast cancer.
The calcium deposits and scatterings of abnormal cells found in most DCIS are probably the result of some underlying metabolic dysfunction - the debris of a battle and not a real cancer. If they ocur in one breast, they’re likely to show up in both breasts. This is another sign that the problem is a systemic metabolic dysfunction and not a random local incident.
In their groundbreaking publication ‘What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Breast Cancer‘ Drs John Lee and David Zava write, "It makes sense that if DCIS is the result of an underlying metabolic imbalance, and the imbalance isn’t corrected, it will come back. Recurrence isn’t a real issue with most cases of DCIS - which is essentially a benign condition - and therefore to risk permanently damaging the body with radiation may be a grievous overtreatment. A recent meta-analysis of studies of radiation for breast cancer clearly demonstrated increased risks of dying from the radiation compared to the breast cancer itself - in good part due to the negative effects of radiation on the blood vessels and heart."
DCIS that is low grade, small celled, and without necrosis (dead and dying tissue) is less likely to become invasive, especially if you correct the underlying imbalance that caused the problem in the first place. On the other hand, the more aggressive types of DCIS, which are high nuclear grade, large celled, and with comedo-type necrosis, have more potential to become invasive, and you should have them removed. These types of analyses can only be done in partnership with a trusted physician or onocologist, and preferably with a second option.
Dr Zava writes,
"Most oncologists and general practioners that work with natural progesterone find that primary breast cancer, and breast cancer recurrences are less frequent in women using topical progesterone, but it does happen. My experience, in reviewing pathology reports from women who have developed breast cancer while using topical progesterone, is that they usually have tumors that do not contain progesterone receptors, or the receptors are very low."
