Breast cancer isn’t so bad – it’s the treatment that’s tough!
Many of us have had that thought as we’ve made our way through breast cancer treatment. Surgery, radiation, chemo, and long-term drugs all have their own challenges.
If you’ve chosen to treat your breast cancer, you can’t avoid the rough spots. But knowing what to expect along the way – from deciding what treatment to have, to going through it, to dealing with the side effects (both immediate, and long-term) – is a big help.
Knowledge is power. It also diffuses fear. Arm yourself with information, and you’ll be better able to handle those treatment challenges!
Let’s begin with your medical team. Understand that you’ll be dealing with some of your cancer doctors for a long time – perhaps the rest of your life. It’s critical that you have personnel in place that you trust, and with whom you feel comfortable.
•Picking a Breast Cancer Doctor or Surgeon: Neighborhood Oncologist or Big Cancer Center?
•Too Close? Too Distant? Finding a Good Match With Your Doctors
•Working with an Oncologist - Advice from an Inflammatory Breast Cancer Survivor
Next comes one of the toughest parts of breast cancer: making treatment decisions. Here are some resources to help you make those tough choices.
•The Courage of Your Convictions: Having Tough Conversations
•Alternative Treatment: It’s Your Decision, But What About the Kids?
•Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind? What to Do When You’re Sitting on the Fence
•The Myth of the Good Attitude
•Comprehensive Cancer Centers: America’s Top Treatment Facilities
Surgery is often the first step in treatment. Read up on mastectomy and lumpectomy, the two main surgeries for removing tumors.
•Lumpectomy vs. Mastectomy: Only You Can Choose
•Lumpectomy FAQS
•Mastectomy FAQS
•Having a Mastectomy? 10 Insider Tips
•More Women Opting for Double Mastectomies: Is It Justified?
•From Bras To Swimsuits: Dressing After Mastectomy
You’re having a mastectomy; have you considered reconstruction? While you can usually opt to have reconstruction months or even years later, it’s useful to understand what’s involved, and the different types you might choose.
•Reconstruction Overview
•Reconstruction: Breast Forms/Prosthesis
•Reconstruction: Implants vs. Autologous/Body Tissue
•Reconstruction: Implants - Silicone vs. Saline
•Reconstruction: Autologous/Body Tissue (TRAM, LAT, etc.)
Once you’ve recovered from surgery, you might be advised to have radiation. If you’ve had a lumpectomy, you’ll need radiation to your breast. If you’ve had a mastectomy, you might need radiation to the chest wall, or armpit. Here’s what’s involved:
•Radiation FAQS
•Radiation Side Effects
•MammoSite: A Survivor’s Story
Your doctor is suggesting the possibility of chemotherapy, but it’s not clear if it’s an absolute must. You’re very uncomfortable about having to make this decision: should you have chemo, or not?
