Content Overview 
- Learn About Additional Tests If Recommended
- Summary
- Breast Cancer Is Not What It Used To Be.
- Take Time Making Medical Decisions.
- Think About Your Goals.
- Commit Yourself To Doing Everything You Can To Reach Your Goal
- A General Overview Of What Happens After A Breast Cancer Diagnosis
- Learn About Your Specific Diagnosis
- Decide Who You Want To Make Medical Decisions.
- Choose The Best Available Cancer Doctors (Oncologists)
- Learn How To Maximize Your Limited Time With A Doctor.
- Treatments Available For Breast Cancer
- Ask All Your Questions Before Agreeing To A Treatment Plan.
- What Happens In A Lumpectomy, a Partial Mastectomy or a Mastectomy.
- If A Mastectomy Is Recommended.
- If A Lumpectomy Is Recommended, Ask About Getting An MRI
- Choosing Between Lumpectomy or Partial Mastectomy and a Mastectomy
- If Radiation Is Recommended.
- If Chemotherapy Is Recommended.
- If Wait And See Is Recommended
- Second Opinions Are A Good Thing.
- Non-traditional Treatments Should Be Complementary - Not Instead Of
- When A Drug Is Recommended.
- Take Someone With You To Doctor Appointments
- Tools That Will Make The Process Easier
- A Cancer Prevention Lifestyle Helps
- What To Do If Your Diagnosis Is Metastatic Breast Cancer Or An Unusual Or Rare Cancer
Breast Cancer In Situ: Managing Your Medical Care: Diagnosis To Treatment Decision
Commit Yourself To Doing Everything You Can To Reach Your Goal
Next » « Previous6/27
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.
Please share how this information is useful to you.
0 Comments
Post a Comment Have something to add to this topic? Contact Us.
Get Your Personal Guide
