Jump to content

  • Set Your Location
  • Sign in or Enroll
Set Your LocationSet Your Location
  • Sign in or Enroll
    • Open I want to choose my medical group or hospital
    • Clear my location
Change Location
Sutter Health
  • Video Visits
  • Find Doctors
  • Find Locations
  • Treatments & Services
    • Video Visits
    • Find Doctors
    • Find Locations
    • Treatments & Services
    • COVID-19 Resources
    • Pay a Bill
    • Symptom Checker
    • Get Care Today
    • Health & Wellness
    • Classes & Events
    • Research & Clinical Trials
    • For Patients
    • About Sutter Health
    • Giving
    • Volunteering
    • Careers
    • News
    • For Medical Professionals
    • Other Business Services
Close Search
  • Home
  • Patient Stories
  • Risk Assessment Detects Breast Cancer Early
Content

PATIENT STORIES Risk Assessment Detects Breast Cancer Early

Sutter Medical Foundation

Sutter Davis Hospital

Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento

As the wife of family medicine physician Ricardo DeNapoli, D.O., of the Sutter Medical Foundation, Julie DeNapoli is no stranger to the importance of staying healthy and scheduling regular medical visits. Given her family's history of breast cancer, DeNapoli is especially vigilant about mammograms and monthly breast self-examinations.

Last year, as a part of her routine preventive care, DeNapoli, a Vacaville resident, went in for an exam and scheduled a mammogram as a follow-up to her annual visit. Her mammogram came back normal and negative for cancer, which is always good news. Weeks later during a women's health visit with Diane Griffith-Parker, certified nurse midwife, DeNapoli discussed her mammogram results. Because of her family history, Griffith-Parker suggested that DeNapoli take part in a Breast Cancer Risk Assessment as a follow-up to the mammogram.

"This tool is used to assess women who are 35 years of age and older, and are concerned about their risk for developing breast cancer," Griffith-Parker says.

The Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool, designed by scientists at the National Cancer Institute, is composed of eight questions that take about five minutes to answer via an online form. The questions are intended to assess a woman's risk of developing invasive breast cancer in her lifetime. If the results from the test indicate that a patient's risk is more than 20 percent, additional testing is recommended.

Having full faith in Sutter Health and her caretakers, DeNapoli agreed to take the assessment. As a former project management consultant for Sutter Health and its affiliates for 15 years, she knew she was in good hands.

Upon completion of the Breast Cancer Risk Assessment, DeNapoli was deemed "high-risk" for developing breast cancer. Griffith-Parker referred her for a breast MRI, which was covered through DeNapoli's insurance because of her risk status. The results of this advanced imaging procedure showed abnormalities, specifically two suspicious spots on DeNapoli's right breast.

DeNapoli went in for an MRI-guided biopsy to take samples of the tissue. One tumor was found to be benign. The second biopsy results indicated that her cancer cells were at stage zero — or ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). She underwent a lumpectomy with Sutter Medical Group surgeon Alicia Silva, M.D., to remove the area where the biopsy showed DCIS. After surgery, the samples were sent to a pathologist for further evaluation.

Contrary to the findings from the MRI biopsy, DeNapoli's post-surgical tissue samples revealed that only a small amount of the tumor was DCIS. Instead, the majority of the tumor was invasive ductal carcinoma — or stage one cancer. DeNapoli's case was presented by her oncologist, Melissa Williams, M.D., to Sutter Cancer Center's Tumor Board to discuss treatment options. Tumor Board care providers meet monthly, working together to manage patient cases to determine the best course of treatment for patients on a case-by-case basis.

"By working together in a multidisciplinary approach, we are able to provide the best care possible for our patients," Dr. Silva says.

Fortunately, all of the DCIS and invasive cancer was removed during the first surgery, and DeNapoli did not need any additional breast surgery. Because her cancer was invasive, Dr. Silva recommended that her lymph nodes be tested using the less-invasive sentinel lymph node technique. When presented at the Tumor Board, the participating care providers agreed. DeNapoli went in for her second surgery to have her sentinel lymph nodes sampled, which only required a small incision near her underarm.

With lymph node testing, doctors are able to determine if cancer cells had spread. Luckily, DeNapoli's cancer had not spread to her lymph nodes. After the second surgery, she continued her course of treatment with an abbreviated three weeks of radiation as opposed to the standard six weeks.

"Julie was very lucky in terms of the sequence of events because the cancer was caught early," Dr. Silva says.

As a follow-up to her treatments, DeNapoli is undergoing genetic counseling and continues to take an oral medication to keep cancerous cells at bay. She attributes her positive outlook and prognosis to the care she received at Sutter Health, and specifically the care and attention to detail provided by her women's health provider, who suggested the risk assessment.

"Who knows what would have happened if I had waited a year," DeNapoli says.

Her hope is that other women will feel empowered to ask follow-up questions after a normal mammogram if there is a strong family history of breast cancer. Take the Breast Cancer Risk Assessment and ask if an MRI is appropriate to enable early detection. If you have any questions about your risk for developing breast cancer, schedule an appointment and talk with your healthcare provider.

Related Stories

Patient's First Mammogram Detects Breast Cancer

Julie was preparing for back surgery when an alert in her electronic health record suggested a mammogram. That alert may have saved her life.

Minimally Invasive Surgery Helps Active Grammy

After having surgery to remove a large, malignant kidney tumor, Marilyn Mowrer is once again enjoying the active, busy life she’s always lived.

Detailed Research Leads to Quick Recovery After Breast Cancer

An engineer by profession, Gwen expects the same level of precision in her personal life, especially when it comes to her health.

Breast Cancer Survivor Celebrates Her Health

Hazel Neibert is the first to admit that her health was low on her priority list. But when she discovered a lump in her breast, everything changed.

Blood and Marrow Transplant Saves Patient's Life

Constance Cole, 67, of Roseville, received a bone-marrow transplant in 2014 after being diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia.

See all Patient Stories

Disclaimer

Each individual’s treatment and/or results may vary based upon circumstances and the healthcare provider’s medical judgment. Testimonials or statements made by any person(s) within this site are not intended to guarantee outcomes or substitute for medical advice.

The Sutter Health Network of Care
Expertise to fit your needs
Primary Care

Check-ups, screenings and sick visits for adults and children.

Specialty Care

Expertise and advanced technologies in all areas of medicine.

Emergency Care

For serious accidents, injuries and conditions that require immediate medical care.

Urgent Care

After-hours, weekend and holiday services.

Walk-In Care

Convenient walk-in care clinics for your non-urgent health needs.

  • Contact Us
  • Find Doctors
  • Find Locations
  • Request Medical Records
  • Make a Gift
Sign in to My Health Online

Billing and Insurance

  • Pay a Bill
  • Accepted Health Plans
  • Estimate Costs
  • Medicare Advantage

About Sutter

  • About Our Network
  • Community Benefit
  • Annual Report
  • News

Our Team

  • For Employees
  • For Medical Professionals
  • For Vendors
  • For Volunteers

Careers

  • Jobs at Sutter
  • Physician Jobs
  • Graduate Medical Education

Copyright © 2023 Sutter Health. All rights reserved. Sutter Health is a registered trademark of Sutter Health ®, Reg. U.S. Patent & Trademark office.

  • ADA Accessibility
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Personal Information
  • LinkedIn Opens new window
  • YouTube Opens new window
  • Facebook Opens new window
  • Twitter Opens new window
  • Instagram Opens new window
  • Glassdoor Opens new window

Cookie Policy

We use cookies to give you the best possible user experience. By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies. Privacy Policy Cookie Preferences

Privacy Policy Cookie Preferences