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
Treatments Available For Breast Cancer
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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
- American Cancer Society at: www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_4X_Treatment_by_Stage_Breast_Cancer_5.asp?rnav=cri
- 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.
- National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) has a decision tree which describes what treatments are recommended for various situations written for breast cancer professionals at: www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/PDF/breast.pdf
- Information about hormone therapy is available at American Cancer Society's Website: www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_4X_Hormone_Therapy_5.asp?sitearea=
- If you are pregnant, in general, treatment recommendations depend upon how long you have been pregnant. See: www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_4x_Treatment_of_Breast_Cancer_During_Pregnancy.asp?rnav=cri
- A free treatment decision tool for breast cancer is available from the American Cancer Society at: www.cancer.nexcura.com/Secure/InterfaceSecure.asp?CB=266
Survivorship A to Z provides a tool that helps you to compare treatments side by side so that you can evaluate which works best for your lifestyle and values. Please see the link in "To Learn More."
If there are no standard treatments available for your situation, consider joining a clinical trial. Clinical trials are tightly regulated. The drugs are usually free. Your case will usually be supervised by a team of medical professionals. There may also be treatments to explore in foreign, developed countries. Watch out for fraudulent treatments. (Please see "To Learn More.")
So called "alternative treatments" should only be considered to be complimentary to western medicine, not instead of. There is no scientific proof that alternative treatments work to cure breast cancer by themselves.
NOTES:
- Not all cancer treatments harm fertility. However, if the treatment you may receive does include a risk of infertility, fertility preservation treatments are available. The earlier you discuss your options, the greater the chance of maintaining your fertility.
- If you want to share what you learn about your cancer and treatment(s) with family and friends, consider using the American Cancer Society Circle of Sharing
To Learn More
More Information
Clinical Trials 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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