DCIS Toolkit: Your Newly Diagnosed Resource Hub
When you’re newly diagnosed with DCIS, it can feel like your world has been turned upside down. Endless appointments, unfamiliar medical terms, treatment decisions, and the anxiety of the unknown—it’s a lot to process.
But here’s the truth: you don’t have to navigate this alone.
Being an informed patient means asking the questions that matter to you and making decisions with clarity. With the right medical team, an encouraging support system, and up-to-date information, you can advocate for yourself—even in the swirl of a cancer diagnosis.
That’s why I created this DCIS toolkit: to be your trusted resource hub. It’s filled with posts, tools, and encouragement to help you take your first steps with confidence. I’ve also included insights from my own journey and the many DCIS patients I’ve supported, because I know firsthand how powerful survivor-to-survivor encouragement can be.
I hope this toolkit becomes a place of clarity, strength, and hope for you as you navigate your DCIS journey.
Start Here: Your First Steps After Diagnosis
Hearing the words “You have DCIS” can feel like stepping into a whirlwind—appointments, unfamiliar terms, and decisions you never expected to make. It’s a lot to process, and it’s okay to feel overwhelmed.
This section is here to help you slow down, take a breath, and focus on the first steps. These resources are designed to give you clarity, confidence, and a sense of direction as you begin navigating your diagnosis.
You don’t have to figure it all out today. Start with what feels most helpful right now, and know that you can come back to these resources whenever you need them.
- What is DCIS: You’ve been diagnosed with stage zero breast cancer—but what does that actually mean? This post breaks down DCIS in simple, clear terms so you can better understand your diagnosis and what it means for you. It’s the perfect place to start.
- DCIS Treatment Options: What does treatment for DCIS look like? From surgery to radiation, this post provides an overview of the current options available, helping you feel more informed and prepared as you navigate your next steps.
- Choosing a Surgeon: What does it mean to be referred to a surgeon? How do you choose the right one for you? And should you consider getting a second opinion? This post answers all of these questions so you can feel confident in making this important decision.
- Questions for Your Breast Surgeon: Walking into your first appointment with a breast surgeon can feel intimidating, but having the right questions prepared can make all the difference. This comprehensive checklist includes everything you’ll need to ask so you can leave your appointment feeling informed and empowered. Access by filling out the form below.
Understanding Your Options and Making Decisions
Navigating DCIS treatment can feel like an overwhelming series of decisions—each one carrying its own weight and uncertainty. It’s completely normal to feel like you’re trying to solve a puzzle without all the pieces in front of you.
This section is here to help you slow down, find clarity, and approach those decisions with confidence. I’ve included resources that not only break down the options but also share how I navigated key choices during my own treatment journey. My hope is that these tools and insights empower you to make decisions that feel aligned with your needs, values, and the vision you have for your life beyond DCIS.
Decision-Making During Breast Cancer: Making decisions during breast cancer can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it alone. In this post, I share how I approached the decision-making process, including specific insights on surgery, radiation, and genetic testing. My goal is to help you find clarity, even when the path feels uncertain.
Lumpectomy or Mastectomy: Making the Right Decision for You: If you’re being offered a choice between surgeries, it means both options are viable—but how do you decide which one is right for you? This post walks you through the decision-making process, helping you weigh your options and choose the path that feels most aligned with your needs.
- Surgery Choices: Why I Decided to Have a Lumpectomy: Choosing surgery is deeply personal, and no two journeys are the same. In this post, I share my personal experience and the reasons behind my decision to have a lumpectomy. My hope is that my story helps you feel less alone as you navigate your own choices.
- Newly Diagnosed Workbook + Workshop: Feeling overwhelmed by all the decisions ahead? This free, on-demand workshop and workbook will help you get organized, focus on what needs your attention now, and take your next steps with clarity and confidence.
Access by filling out the form below.
Building Your Support System
Breast cancer is not something you’re meant to navigate alone. Building a support system—whether it’s friends, family, or a community of fellow survivors—can make all the difference.
In these posts, I share how I kept my support team informed, learned to say yes to help, and found meaningful connections both online and in person. These tools can help you create a support system that truly uplifts you.
Ask for Help: Asking for help can feel uncomfortable, but it’s one of the most important things you can do right now. This post shares strategies for reaching out and embracing the support you need.
Accepting Help: The Size of Our Cancer Doesn’t Equal the Size of Our Support Needs. It’s okay to say yes to help—even with a stage zero diagnosis. This post offers encouragement to accept support, no matter the size of your diagnosis.
Treatment Text Updates: Keeping your loved ones informed without exhausting yourself is key. This post shares how to use text updates to stay connected while conserving your energy.
Support Groups: Support groups can be a lifeline during and after DCIS. I recommend joining my group, DCIS Support and Encouragement, which is open to everyone, or the California Breast Cancer Support Group, specifically for California Pink Sisters. For in-person groups, your medical team can often point you in the right direction. You can also explore Encourage: Breast Cancer and Beyond which combines the video version of my book with live calls and a private support community.
Discover Encourage
If you’re looking for a trusted, supportive place to navigate your breast cancer journey, I’d love to invite you to explore Encourage: Breast Cancer & Beyond. Encourage is your comprehensive support hub from diagnosis and beyond.
✨ Video lessons from my book, live support calls, and a private community.
Practical Tools for Everyday Life
When you’re navigating a breast cancer diagnosis, life doesn’t pause—and that can feel like an impossible weight to carry. Between treatment, recovery, and the mental load of everyday responsibilities, it’s easy to feel stretched thin.
This section is here to help lighten that load. These posts are designed to give you practical, actionable tools to manage the day-to-day challenges of recovery. From calming anxiety to optimizing your home for healing, these resources are here to help you create a sense of ease and focus on what matters most: your healing and well-being.
10 Tools to Deal with Cancer Anxiety: The anxiety that comes with treatment and recovery can feel all-consuming. In this post, I share 10 practical tools that helped me navigate those worrisome moments and find calm amidst the chaos.
Optimizing Your Home Life for Recovery: Preparing your home for surgery recovery can make a huge difference in how supported and comfortable you feel. This post is packed with practical tips to help you set up your space for healing.
Home Life and the Mental Load During Breast Cancer: Our lives are already full before breast cancer, and the mental load doesn’t stop during treatment. From routines to kids to dinner plans, this post dives into how I managed home life while navigating treatment—and how you can, too.
Dealing with Fatigue: Fatigue is a normal part of the breast cancer journey, but for me, it was one of the hardest challenges to face. In this post, I share how I adjusted my routines, prioritized my energy, and gave myself permission to rest without guilt.
Your Next Step: Deeper Support + Community
This DCIS toolkit is just the beginning. If you’re ready to dive deeper into your journey with trusted guidance and a supportive community, I’d love to introduce you to two resources designed to walk with you every step of the way: my book and Encourage.
A Breast Cancer Journey: Living It One Step at a Time
This is the ultimate guidebook and support manual for DCIS patients. It’s packed with practical tools, heartfelt stories, and step-by-step guidance to help you navigate your diagnosis, treatment, and recovery with clarity and confidence. Think of it as having a trusted friend by your side, walking with you through every stage of the journey.
Encourage: Breast Cancer & Beyond
Encourage takes the lessons from my book even further. It’s like a video book, with 14 in-depth modules that bring the guidance to life. You’ll also get access to live support calls and a private community of women who truly understand what you’re going through. It’s a space where you can feel seen, supported, and empowered—every step of the way.
Inside, you’ll get video lessons from my book, live support calls, and a private community where you can connect with others who truly understand.
It’s a one-time purchase, so your support and connection don’t end when treatment does — you can lean on this space for as long as you need it.
✅ Video course — “A Breast Cancer Journey”
✅ Private community
✅ Live support calls
Finding Hope Beyond Treatment
When I was in the thick of treatment, it was hard to imagine what life might look like on the other side. But here’s what I want you to know: there is life beyond treatment. I remember talking to another survivor, and when she said, “Jennifer, believe it or not, there will be a time when you’re not thinking about breast cancer every day,” I laughed. At the time, all I could think about was my DCIS.
In the years since my diagnosis, I have rebuilt my strength, discovered new purpose, and found joy in my everyday life again. And I am here to support you in any way I can.
These resources, my book, and Encourage are here to help you not only navigate the challenges of today but also to remind you that hope is waiting for you on the other side. You’re not alone in this, and together, we can take it one step at a time. 💗
Jennifer Douglas
Jennifer is the author of "A Breast Cancer Journey: Living it One Step at a Time," breast cancer survivor, and patient advocate. Her book, published in 2023 by Bold Story Press, is an encouraging guide for breast cancer patients. It contains first-hand information, organized by topics, to help readers navigate the diagnosis, treatment, and recovery from breast cancer. Her writing emphasizes emotional, mental, and physical well-being along with empowered decision-making.
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