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
Commit Yourself To Doing Everything You Can To Beat Your Disease.
Next » « Previous5/24
A growing body of evidence indicates that patients who actively participate in their health care do better than patients who don't. The great majority of "how to" books and articles by long term survivors talk about the importance of:
- Being pro-active. (The other sections of this document help you learn how).
- Understanding that no one cares as much about your health and well being as you do. It is your job to make the health care system work for you.
- Adopting a cancer preventive lifestyle in addition to using available treatments and drugs.
- Getting emotional support which helps make medical decisions and care easier, as well as day-to-day living. Emotional support is available in a variety of ways. (See Emotional Well Being).
Having no regrets is important for emotional well-being. For survivors, this seems to depend far more on having gone through a reasonable decision making process than on whether or not the outcome was the one desired.
Get Your Personal Guide
Please share how this information is useful to you. 0 Comments
Post a Comment Have something to add to this topic? Contact Us.