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
Ask All Your Questions Before Agreeing To A Treatment Plan.
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In general, treatment for breast cancer involves surgery to remove the tumor and additional therapy such as chemotherapy, anti-estrogen medications or radiation. (Treatments when accompanying surgery are known as "adjuvant therapies").
Before agreeing to a treatment plan, ask all the questions an informed medical consumer would ask, as well as any additional questions you have.
If the doctor doesn't have time to answer all your questions during an appointment, ask when you can ask your remaining questions. For example, on what day and at what time should you call? Or, when can you see the doctor again? More and more doctors can communicate electronically with patients so ask your doctor about using e-mails.
For a suggested list of questions see the document in "To Learn More."
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