Kay Azuma says her outlook on life changed after being diagnosed with breast cancer five years ago

Kay Azuma said she first experienced denial and then disbelief when she found out she had breast cancer in June 2004.

Azuma, the community coordinator of Community Caring Council in Cape Girardeau, said she felt no physical symptoms, no lumps and thought she was in excellent health. All she thought was "How could I have cancer?"

"Telling others was one of the hardest tasks because that confirmed the reality of it," she said. "Taking it one day at a time was what I did -- keeping my normal routine at home and at work."

Telling others also revealed to Azuma how many lives had been touched by cancer.

"I was amazed at the number of other cancer victims -- many were acquaintances and friends of friends," she said. "Everyone I told knew someone who had been through a cancer diagnosis. Talking with others who had breast cancer was very helpful."

Cancer was first suspected during her routine mammogram and a stereotactic breast biopsy confirmed that she had intraductal carcinoma in situ, stage 1, the most common type of non-invasive breast cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. It's also referred to as ductal carcinoma or DCIS.

With DCIS, the cancer cells exist inside the ducts but they have not spread through the walls and into the surrounding breast tissue. The American Cancer Society reports that nearly one in five new breast cancer cases will be DCIS. If diagnosed at this early stage of breast cancer, most women can be cured.

"Early detection of DCIS makes all the difference in the prevention of invasive cancer," said Azuma's doctor, Dr. Carlos Robles, a hematologist/oncologist at Saint Francis Medical Center.

Azuma said the facts about early detection and recovery rates gave her hope.

"While there was certainly distress and concern for my diagnosis, there was comfort in knowing that the disease wFOUt as discovered in a very early and treatable stage," she said.

Azuma's cancer was non-invasive and therefore not accompanied by pain or symptoms. According to Robles, invasive breast cancer can include a change in how the breast or nipple feels or looks, a lump, thickening in or near the breast or the underarm area, nipple tenderness or scaly, red or swollen skin on the breast, areola or nipple, and nipple discharge.

Azuma had a lumpectomy Aug. 12, 2004, about seven weeks after her diagnosis. A lumpectomy only removes the cancerous area, sparing as much healthy breast as possible. Azuma had it as outpatient surgery and was back at work within five days.

Robles and Azuma decided to opt for a three-pronged approach to her cancer.

"Treatment of all screen-detected DCIS with a multidisciplinary approach such as surgery, radiation and hormone therapy can result in a cure," Robles said.

After her lumpectomy, Azuma said she received radiation therapy from Oct. 6 to Nov. 19, 2004. She began taking the drug Tamoxifen on March 1, 2005, and it was recommended that she continue taking Tamoxifen for five years.

Azuma admits having cancer changed her outlook on life.

"I like to think that I have always had a positive outlook on life, but I have made a more conscious effort to stay positive and to appreciate each day as it comes, for the good and not-so-good things that it may bring."

Eating a healthy diet was not new to her, but exercising regularly became a new resolution.

"Knowing that I could have something as serious as cancer with no symptoms, has made me much more aware of prevention and screening practices," Azuma said.

Exercise and a healthy diet have been linked to a reduced cancer risk. The American Cancer Society reports that one-third of cancer deaths are related to poor diet and exercise factors.

Among other things, Azuma said when you're diagnosed, "seek support of others who have journeyed before you if cancer or any disease becomes part of your life. Cancer is serious and deserves your full attention."