Breast Cancer

Living with cancer

A diagnosis of breast cancer has a deep and lasting impact--not only on the woman, but on her partner, her children, her family, and her friends. The Hoffberger Breast Center at Mercy recognizes the importance of support, care, and counseling from diagnosis through recovery for the patient and her loved ones.

Open communication with the doctor and the rest of the healthcare team will help everyone feel more in control. The healthcare team can help the patient and her family understand the range of treatment options, the prognosis for recovery, and offer realistic expectations for life after the diagnosis. Armed with this information, the family can begin to make decisions about treatment and life issues.

Support groups such as Arm-in-Arm and the Family Circle are available for breast cancer patients and their families and can help with the feelings of isolation and helplessness they are experiencing. Individual counseling can also help the woman deal with some of the issues she's facing. Mercy's counselors truly understand the emotional and physical feelings that breast cancer patients experience.

Women with breast cancer need all the support they can get. Sometimes it's hard for a family who is in pain to give that support. The Hoffberger Breast Center fills in the gaps, providing a caring, empathetic environment for everyone who is touched by breast cancer.

The course of breast cancer
Diagnosis and early detection
Treatment
Living with cancer
Making the right decisions