Breast Cancer Wellness Month reminds us to schedule screenings and care for our health. It can also remind us of something equally important: we have a voice in our care. We can ask questions, request another opinion, explore our options and build a team that helps us make informed decisions.
I learned this personally after my annual mammogram in the fall of 2023 led to a diagnosis of invasive ductal carcinoma and ductal carcinoma in situ, or DCIS. The cancer was small, detected early and considered highly treatable. Still, hearing the words “you have breast cancer” changed my world in an instant.
The conventional plan presented to me was a lumpectomy followed by radiation and anti-hormone therapy. When I asked what would happen if I chose not to follow that treatment plan, I was told the alternative was a mastectomy.
That answer did not feel like the end of the conversation. It became the beginning of my search.
Searching for another possibility
As I researched, I discovered breast cryoablation, a minimally invasive procedure that destroys targeted tissue by freezing it. I first learned about it through Laura Ross-Paul’s book They’re Mine and I’m Keeping Them. Laura was the first woman in the United States to undergo breast cryoablation more than 20 years ago.
I was astonished to learn that her physician, Dr. Peter Littrup, was still practicing only minutes from my home. It felt like an answer to prayer. Then came another disappointment: after reviewing my MRI, his office told me that my tumor could not be visualized clearly enough for the procedure. I was not considered a candidate.
I was devastated, but I kept asking questions. I sought additional opinions, underwent further testing and consulted a major research hospital involved in cryoablation trials. At one point, I considered traveling out of state and paying for treatment myself. The answer continued to be no, but something inside me kept saying, “Ask one more question.”
Building a team around my health
While pursuing medical answers, I also created a broader support team. My husband, Mark, stood beside me throughout the journey. A patient advocate helped me navigate the healthcare system. I worked with a naturopathic doctor and other wellness professionals, improved my nutrition, eliminated sugar and alcohol, and focused on supporting my overall health.
Through a referral from Pink Fund, I connected with the naturopathic physician who guided me through advanced bloodwork, DNA testing and personalized supplementation. These choices were not a substitute for medical care. They were part of my effort to understand my health more completely and participate actively in my decisions.
The call that changed everything
After months of searching, one more phone call connected me with a physician in Detroit who offered breast cryoablation. This time, I felt heard. A new biopsy produced an unexpected result: the invasive cancer was no longer present, and only a very small area of DCIS remained.
In July 2024, I underwent cryoablation. Today, I am cancer-free.
I share this as my personal experience, not as a recommendation that another woman make the same decision. Cryoablation is not appropriate for every patient, every tumor or every diagnosis. Each woman deserves careful medical evaluation and a clear understanding of the potential benefits, limitations and risks of every option she is considering.
An important development in breast cancer care
Since my procedure, the treatment landscape has continued to evolve. On October 3, 2025, the FDA granted marketing authorization for IceCure Medical’s ProSense® Cryoablation System for a specific group of patients: women age 70 and older with early-stage, biologically low-risk breast cancer meeting defined clinical criteria, when treated with accompanying endocrine therapy. The authorization also requires additional post-market study.
This is not a blanket approval of cryoablation for everyone with breast cancer, but it is a meaningful step toward expanding carefully selected women’s access to a minimally invasive treatment option. READ THE OCTOBER 2025 ANNOUNCEMENT AND PATIENT-SELECTION DETAILS.
Five lessons in self advocacy
- Ask what else is possible. A treatment recommendation may be appropriate, but you are entitled to understand the alternatives and why your medical team recommends a particular course.
- Seek another qualified opinion. A second or third opinion can confirm the original recommendation, reveal another possibility or simply give you greater confidence in your decision.
- Prepare for appointments. Write down your questions, bring a trusted person, request copies of your records and take notes so you do not have to rely on memory during an emotional time.
- Build more than a medical team. Practical, emotional, spiritual and financial support can make an enormous difference while you navigate diagnosis and treatment.
- Remember that informed choice is personal. There is no single right path for every woman. The goal is not to reject expert guidance; it is to participate fully in decisions about your own body and life.
You deserve to be heard
A breast cancer diagnosis can make life feel as though it has suddenly moved beyond your control. Yet even in the uncertainty, you are not powerless. You can ask questions. You can gather information. You can request help. You can pause long enough to understand the choices in front of you.
Advocating for yourself does not mean that you must navigate everything alone. In fact, one of the strongest things you can do is surround yourself with people who respect your questions, help you understand the answers and support the decision that is right for you.
My journey taught me to keep listening to that quiet inner voice that says, “Ask one more question.” Sometimes that next question opens a door you did not know existed.
Continue learning
- Dr. Dennis Holmes on Cryoablation in the Treatment of Breast Cancer
- Laura Ross-Paul on How I Kept Them: My Cryoablation Story
Medical note: This article shares Katana Abbott’s personal experience and is intended for education and encouragement. It is not medical advice. Treatment decisions should be made with qualified healthcare professionals who understand your individual diagnosis and medical history.
About Katana
Katana Abbott, CFP®, is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, founder of Smart Women’s Empowerment, and Guide for Your Next Chapter™. For four decades, she has helped women navigate life’s transitions with greater clarity, confidence, and purpose—from retirement and encore careers to caregiving, financial independence, and creating a life they love.
Through her long-running podcast Smart Women Talk, her monthly Smart Women Smart Choices ezine, and her signature course, Unlock Your Financial Power, Katana brings together trusted experts and practical wisdom to educate, inspire, and empower women to make confident choices for their future.
Katana believes there is no single “right” path—only the one that aligns your values, resources, and vision for the life you want to create. Every meaningful journey begins with one next right step.
To learn more or connect with Katana, visit www.katanaabbott.com.
Smart Women’s Empowerment is a project of United Charitable, a registered 501(c)(3) public charity (EIN 20-4286082). Donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law.