She Almost Skipped Her Follow-Up Mammogram. Her Results Changed Everything. Triple Positive Breast Cancer

Melissa Mariano is a 43-year-old Canadian flight attendant living in Dubai who was diagnosed with triple positive (ER+, PR+, HER2+) breast cancer after a routine mammogram...zero symptoms, zero lumps. She almost skipped her follow-up appointment. In this episode, she shares how she went from stage 0 DCIS to navigating Herceptin without chemo, low-dose "Baby Tam," the Dutch test, and a radical people-pleasing wake-up call that changed everything. In this episode we cover: p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> How calcifications on a mammogram went from "nothing to worry about" to a biopsy — and why she delayed 4 months p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> The vacuum-assisted biopsy that may have removed her invasive cancer entirely before surgery even happened p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Why her final pathology came back DCIS only, stage 0 — and what triple positive actually means p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> 18 rounds of Herceptin (anti-HER2) with NO chemo — and the NCCN guideline that made that possible p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> The Italian Clancy study on "Baby Tam" (5mg Tamoxifen) and why she's tapering down from 20mg p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Dutch test results: high estrogen, good methylation — what it means and what she's doing about it p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Supplements she's using: L-theanine, Relora, liposomal glutathione, DIM (cycled), NAC p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Sauna 2x/week, red light therapy, hyperbaric oxygen, yin yoga, sound healing, Reiki, breathwork — her full protocol p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Egg freezing for fertility preservation before starting Tamoxifen p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> The people-pleasing pattern she believes contributed to her diagnosis — and the shift that changed everything p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Why she says: "I'm no longer a phony — but I am my priority" Links & Resources: p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Clancy Study on Low-Dose Tamoxifen (Baby Tam / 5mg): READ HERE p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> NCCN Guidelines for Breast Cancer: READ HERE p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Connect with Melissa Mariano: https://www.instagram.com/melidubai/ p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Not Today Cancer Inner Circle (weekly live calls, community support): [INFO HERE] p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> BrocElite: 20% off here Chapter Markers (estimated) p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> 00:00 — Intro: Meet Melissa — Dubai life, flight attendant, Italian roots p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> 04:00 — The mammogram that almost didn't happen: calcifications and a delayed follow-up p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> 08:30 — Biopsy results: triple positive, Grade 2 IDC + high-grade DCIS p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> 13:00 — MRI showed no mass enhancement — the biopsy may have removed the cancer p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> 19:00 — Surgery, clear margins, final pathology: stage 0 DCIS p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> 22:00 — 20 rounds radiation — spinning and yoga the whole way through p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> 25:00 — Herceptin without chemo: the NCCN guideline that changed everything p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> 28:00 — Tamoxifen side effects, Baby Tam, and the Italian Clancy study p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> 34:00 — Dutch test results, functional gynecologist Dr. Maria, supplement protocol p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> 38:00 — Sauna, red light, hyperbaric oxygen, yin yoga, sound healing p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> 44:00 — "I'm no longer a phony — but I am my priority": the people-pleasing shift p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> 50:00 — What cancer gave her: resilience, perspective, advocacy p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> 54:00 — Closing: the "Nope. Not Today." shirt moment + not today cancer Medical disclaimer: This episode is for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult your own oncologist, physician, or qualified healthcare provider before making any decisions about your diagnosis, treatment, or supplement protocol.