If anyone has doubts about the effectiveness of a mammogram, Good Day Sacramento's Tina Macuha can tell you differently. Last February, a routine mammogram showed something unusual -- and a biopsy confirmed every woman's worst fear: breast cancer.

Tina was diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ, or DCIS -- the most common form of non-invasive breast cancer among women. It's Stage Zero breast cancer -- cancer cells, confined to the milk ducts, haven't figured out how to get out and spread into the breast tissue-- but they're still cancer cells. According to an explanation on the Mayo Clinic's website, the condition itself isn't life-threatening but does require treatment -- and if left untreated, can become invasive breast cancer.

"My thought was, 'Wait a minute, I'm in shock'," Tina says. "Then that day turned into anger for a couple of days -- just frustrated, really frustrated. And then all the other emotions -- sadness, fear -- and I said, 'I have to do something. I have to be the advocate for myself, for my family.'"

There are different treatment options for DCIS, ranging from a lumpectomy, which keeps both breasts mostly intact... to the most aggressive treatment: a bilateral mastectomy, or having both breasts removed. While some liken a bilateral mastectomy for DCIS to "killing a mosquito with a machine gun", this is the option Tina chose. Why so aggressive? "So I don't have to worry about it coming back," says Tina.

Tina says because of the history of breast cancer on her mother's side of the family, the choice made more sense.
Tina's mother passed away from breast cancer at 52 when Tina was just 22; her grandmother and two cousins also fell victim to the disease, and two other cousins are survivors. Because of that, she started getting mammograms at 23; her daughter, Carina, is a teenager now, and Tina wants to ensure she'll always be there for her. The choice of a bilateral mastectomy is a preventive measure -- to protect her from the occurrence of a more dangerous form of the disease later.

"She says, 'Mom, I'll always be there for you and I know you'll take care of it'," Tina says. "Thank goodness I caught it early and hopefully she'll learn from that, and other people will learn that you have to be diligent about taking care of yourself because nobody's going to do it for you."

The 3½-hour procedure involves the primary surgeon and a plastic surgeon, working side-by-side to simultaneously remove the breasts and prepare her for more detailed reconstructive surgery later. She expects to be out four to six weeks, and is hoping to be back on Good Day Sacramento as quickly as possible -- and is using the power of positive thinking.

"This fell into my lap, so what am I going to do with it? I still have to remain positive and try the best I can to keep moving forward."