Breast Cancer

Give yourself time

You've just been told that you have breast cancer. Your doctor has discussed your specific condition with you and then he or she has talked to you about the options for treatment. As you leave your physician's office you ask yourself, "What do I do now?"

There are, of course, many things to do. Most importantly you need to think about the treatment options discussed with you. Try not to be walled in by any preconceived ideas that you may have about breast cancer and its treatment. While a lot of women have breast cancer, every woman's disease is a bit different. Treatment in the 1990s is very different than it was even ten years ago. Most of the time patients can be given choices of surgical treatment ranging from breast conservation (a fancy name for lumpectomy) to a mastectomy (removal of the breast tissue) with or without reconstruction. If reconstruction is chosen, it can be done either at the time of the mastectomy or later. There are multiple options for reconstruction, chemotherapy and hormonal therapy and many new medications and treatments are available to combat their side effects.

Remember that in most cases the new diagnosis of breast cancer is not a medical emergency. It can, however, be an emotional and psychological emergency. You should be given--and you should take--the time to study all your options for treatment. Seek consultations with your surgeon to discuss YOUR disease and YOUR options for treatment. Ask your surgeon to make a recommendation to you about his or her opinion regarding your treatment.

Sometimes, there may not be a medical reason to choose breast conservation over mastectomy or vice versa. However, there are usually other issues that need to be addressed to provide a patient with the best post-treatment quality of life. The goal of breast cancer treatment is not only to remove disease from the breast, but to give the patient the best quality of life after their treatment and diagnosis. There are non-medical issues that always need to be considered when choosing treatment options. Every person's response to the situation is different.

It is imperative that every woman (or man) give themselves the time and emotional space to think through all their options. The most important gift a patient can give themselves is the knowledge that they considered ALL treatment options, and that they understood the advantages and disadvantages of each option. Whatever decision is made should not be one made hastily or without adequate information. If a physician feels one of the treatment options is medically preferable or more appropriate for you, make sure that you understand why. Also remember that this is your body. The ultimate choice is yours. If any of your physicians have different recommendations, discuss them. Make sure that there is not a communication problem, and ask them to explain why there are differences of opinion. You have a right to have these differences explained to you.

Now, when all is said and done, you have decided on a treatment plan that's best for you. Remember that no matter WHAT happens in the future, you made the best decision for yourself. You were informed and thoughtful. No matter what happens you cannot and should not ever second-guess your decision. You made the BEST decision that you could at the time.

New procedures and treatments may come along. It could be the day after your treatment, a month later, or one or ten years. But you will do what you have to do at the time it needs to be done. Breast cancer treatment will change; we just don't know when. There are new and exciting surgical treatment plans and medications on the horizon. Some are being studied in patients now; some are not yet even to that stage. Unfortunately, they are not available to us today and we are using the best tools we have at this point in time to combat this disease.

In short: explore your choices, ask questions, and take the time to decide what is best for you as a whole person.

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