Content Overview
- Learn About The Tests Your Doctor May Suggest.
- Summary
- Breast Cancer Is Not What It Used To Be.
- Take Time Making A Treatment Decision
- Commit Yourself To Doing Everything You Can To Beat Your Disease.
- Think About Your Goals
- A General Overview Of What Happens After A Breast Cancer Diagnosis
- Learn About Your Specific Diagnosis.
- Choose The Best Available Cancer Doctor (An Oncologist).
- Decide Who You Want To Make Medical Decisions.
- Consider Available Treatments.
- Ask All Your Questions Before Agreeing To A Treatment Plan.
- Lumpectomy, a Partial Mastectomy or a Mastectomy.
- If A Mastectomy Is Recommended.
- When A Drug Is Recommended.
- If Radiation Is Recommended.
- If Chemotherapy Is Recommended.
- Get A Second Opinion
- Non-traditional Treatments Should Be Complementary - Not Instead Of
- Learn How To Maximize Your Limited Time With A Doctor.
- Drugs And Treatments Do Not Work In A Vacuum.
- Tools That Will Make The Process Easier
- Take Someone With You To Doctors' Appointments
- IF YOUR DIAGNOSIS IS OF METASTATIC BREAST CANCER OR AN UNUSUAL OR A RARE CANCER.
Advanced Breast Cancer: Managing Your Medical Care: Diagnosis To Treatment Decision
Consider Available Treatments.
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Which treatment will be recommended depends on the type of breast cancer you have and the stage. Treatments which are available for each type of breast cancer by stage are described in lay terms in a variety of sources on the internet. Keep in mind that, in addition to these treatments, cutting edge treatments may be available through a clinical trial. (Some clinical trials are not available if you had a specific other treatment. If you are interested in a particular trial, check the eligiblity criteria before setting another treatment.)
When you research a treatment (particularly on the Internet), always consider the reliability and source of the information as well as whether the information provider has a self interest.
Keep in mind:
- Statistics only refer to groups of individuals historically and do not tell what will happen to you or any other individual.
- By its nature, research literature will always be behind the current state of treatment.
- Any specific cases cited are usually extremes.
- What happens to you will be unique to your specific set of circumstances.
Even if the odds are a million to one, learn to approach your situation as if you are the one.
Write down all questions that come up during your research so you can ask your doctor about them.
If research tends to increase your stress levels, ask a family member or friend to do it and to tell you what you need to know. Alternatively, you can hire a medical research service for a fee to do the work for you. Research services will take the details of your situation, search the literature, and prepare a report for you. For more information, see "To Learn More."
If you are pregnant, recommended treatments may be different than if you were not pregnant.
A few reputable sources for breast cancer treatment information which are kept up-to-date are:
- Treatment information for lay people, (including practical aspects of each treatment such as how the treatment will affect your ability to continue to work) is available from the American Cancer Society's web site at: www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_4X_How_Is_Breast_Cancer_Treated_5.asp?rnav=cri , You can also obtain this information by calling 800.ACS.2345
- Information about treatment by stage is available from:
- American Cancer Society at: www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_4X_Treatment_by_Stage_Breast_Cancer_5.asp?rnav=cri
- American Society Of Clinical Oncologists at www.cancer.net
- National Cancer Institute's Physicians Data Query (PDQ) cancer database contains peer-reviewed summaries of cancer treatment for laypeople as well as a registry of cancer clinical trials from around the world. See www.nci.nih.gov or call 800.4.cancer (800.422. 6237). Keep in mind that information is sometimes presented in ways that may seem to be brutally frank.
To Learn More
More Information
Clinical Trials 101 Medical Research On The Internet How To Spot A Phony Treatment Complementary and Alternative Medicine Medical Research Services Medical Research (and how to do it)Related Articles
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