When 67-year-old Diane Quirk went in for her annual mammogram this past May, she expected a routine screening. Instead, the results revealed an unexpected breast cancer diagnosis — even though she had no symptoms.
“I had no symptoms,” Diane recalls. “I went in for my annual mammogram, and they saw something suspicious.” Follow-up tests, including an MRI and ultrasound, revealed a tiny tumor in her right breast.
The Power of Early Detection
Diane, whose sister battled breast cancer decades ago, quickly sought care from Dr. Debra Camal, a breast surgeon at Riverview Medical Center. Dr. Camal explained that the initial mammogram showed calcium deposits — tiny white specks that can be an early sign of cancer. Further imaging uncovered a very small mass, roughly a quarter of an inch wide. A needle biopsy confirmed the cancer was detected early and highly treatable.
Rapid, Targeted Surgical Care
Within a month of her screening, Diane underwent a lumpectomy and sentinel lymph node biopsy to determine whether the cancer had spread. Thankfully, it had not.
“Two lymph nodes were removed, and there was no sign of spread,” Diane says.
Dr. Camal notes that lumpectomy, or breast-conserving surgery, is appropriate for 75–80% of women diagnosed with breast cancer. “Patients eligible for lumpectomy often have as good or better outcomes than mastectomy because recovery is quicker and overall recurrence risk isn’t necessarily reduced by removing the breast,” she says. Riverview also employs wire-free localization technology, which allows precise tumor targeting prior to surgery, making the procedure easier and less stressful for patients.
Diane’s pathology results brought additional reassurance. Her Oncotype DX score, a genomic test evaluating tumor aggressiveness, was 14 — considered low. “That meant Diane did not need chemotherapy,” Dr. Camal explains. “She had a small, stage-one tumor with a favorable cell type, no lymph node involvement, and an excellent prognosis thanks to early detection.”
Radiation Therapy and Supportive Care
Following surgery, Diane underwent four weeks of daily radiation treatment, which she completed at Riverview Medical Center despite living in Jersey City. “I found Riverview excellent. Everyone was friendly, and Dr. Camal is very calming,” Diane says.
Radiation treatments are brief, usually lasting about seven to eight minutes each, and cause minimal discomfort. Side effects like mild fatigue or skin redness generally fade quickly. With continued use of an aromatase inhibitor, her risk of recurrence is expected to remain well below 5%.
Navigating Dense Breast Tissue
Diane’s case highlights a common challenge: dense breast tissue, which can make mammograms more difficult to interpret. “Finding cancer in a dense breast is like trying to find a snowball in a snowstorm,” Dr. Camal explains. Fortunately, in New Jersey, insurance covers supplemental screening ultrasounds for women with dense breasts. For Diane, careful imaging and review by specialized radiologists made all the difference.
Dr. Camal’s advice is simple and clear: “Get your mammograms. And if you have dense breasts, ask about ultrasound.”
