Symptoms and treatment of Breast cancer

Description

Breast cancer is a type of cancer that begins as a growth of the cells in the breast tissue.

After skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in women in the united States. But breast cancer doesn't just happen in women. Everyone is born with some breast tissue, so anyone can get breast cancer.

Breast cancer survival rates have been increasing. And the number of people who die of breast cancer is very small. Much of this is due to the broad support for breast cancer awareness and research funding.

Advances in breast cancer screening allow health professionals to diagnose breast cancer before. Find the cancer before it makes it much more likely that the cancer can be cured. Even when breast cancer can't be cured, there are many treatments to prolong life. New discoveries in breast cancer research are helping health professionals to choose the most effective treatment plans.

The breast cancer care at Mayo Clinic

Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of breast cancer may include:

A lump or thickening in the area of the skin that feels different from the surrounding tissue.
A nipple that looks crushed or turns inward.
Changes in the color of the skin of the breast. In people with white skin, the skin of the breast may look pink or red. In people with brown and Black skin, the skin of the breasts can be darker than the skin on your chest or can be red or purple in color.
Change in the size, shape or appearance of a breast.
Changes in the skin over the breast, such as dimpling of the skin that is seen or it looks like an orange peel.
Peeling, scaling, crusting or flaking of the skin of the breast.

When to see a doctor

If you find a lump or any other change in your breast, make an appointment with a doctor or other health care professional. Don't wait for your next mammogram to see if the change that you found is the breast cancer. Report any changes in your breasts, even if a recent mammogram showed that there was no breast cancer.

Causes

The exact cause of the majority of breast cancers is not known. Researchers have found that the things that increase the risk of breast cancer. These include hormones, life style choices and the things in the environment. But it is not clear why some people who do not have factors of getting cancer, but others, with risk factors never do. It is likely that breast cancer occurs through a complex interaction of your genetic makeup and the world around you.

Health professionals know that breast cancer starts when something changes in the DNA inside the cells in the breast tissue. A cell's DNA contains the instructions that tell a cell what to do. In healthy cells, the DNA contains the instructions to grow and multiply at a set rate. The instructions that tell cells to die at a set time. In cancer cells, changes in DNA to give different instructions. The changes, to tell the cancer cells to make many more cells quickly. Cancer cells can continue living when healthy cells would die. This makes too many cells.

The cancer cells may form a mass called a tumor. The tumor can grow to invade and destroy healthy body tissue. At the time, cancer cells can break off and spread to other parts of the body. When cancer spreads, it is called metastatic cancer.

The changes in DNA that lead to cancer of the breast most often occur in the cells that line the milk ducts. These ducts are tubes designed to carry milk to the nipple. The breast cancer that begins in the ducts is called ductal carcinoma invasive. Breast cancer can also begin in the cells of the glands of the milk. These glands, called lobules, are designed to make breast milk. The cancer that occurs in the lobules is called lobular carcinoma invasive. Other cells of the breast can become cancer cells, although this is not common.

Risk factors

Factors that may increase the risk of breast cancer include:

A family history of breast cancer. If a parent, brother or son had cancer of the breast, the risk of breast cancer is higher. The risk is higher if her family has a history of breast cancer at an early age. The risk is also greater if you have multiple family members with breast cancer. Even so, the majority of people diagnosed with breast cancer do not have a family history of the disease.
A personal history of breast cancer. If you have had cancer in one breast, you have a higher risk of developing cancer in the other breast.
A personal history of breast conditions. Certain breast conditions are markers of an increased risk of breast cancer. These conditions include lobular carcinoma in situ, also called LCIS and atypical hyperplasia of the breast. If you have had a breast biopsy that found one of these conditions, you have a higher risk of breast cancer.
In the beginning of your period at a younger age. In the beginning of your menstrual period before age 12 increases your risk of breast cancer.
Beginning menopause at an older age. Starting menopause after age 55 increases the risk of breast cancer.
The fact of being a woman. Women are much more likely than men to suffer from breast cancer. Everyone is born with some breast tissue, so anyone can get breast cancer.
Dense breast tissue. The tissue of the breast is composed of fatty tissue and dense fabric. Dense tissue is made up of milk glands, milk ducts and fibrous tissue. If you have dense breasts, you have more dense tissue than fatty tissue in their breasts. Having dense breasts may make it more difficult to detect breast cancer on a mammogram. If a mammogram showed that they have dense breasts, your risk of breast cancer is higher. Talk with your health care team about other tests you might have in addition to mammograms to detect breast cancer.
The consumption of alcohol. Drinking alcohol increases the risk of breast cancer.
Having your first child at an older age. Give birth to your first child after 30 years of age may increase the risk of breast cancer.
Having never been pregnant. Having been pregnant one or more times, reduces the risk of breast cancer. Never having been pregnant increases the risk.
The increase of the age. The risk of breast cancer increases as you get older.
Inherited changes in the DNA that increase the risk of cancer. Certain changes in DNA that increase the risk of breast cancer can be passed from parents to children. The most well-known of the changes are called BRCA1 and BRCA2. These changes may increase your risk of breast cancer and other types of cancer, but not all of these changes in the DNA is sick of cancer.
Hormone therapy for the menopause. Taking certain medications for hormonal therapy to control the symptoms of menopause can increase the risk of breast cancer. The risk is linked to the hormone therapy medications that combine estrogen and progesterone. The risk decreases after you stop taking these medicines.
Obesity. People with obesity have a higher risk of breast cancer.
The exposure to radiation. If you have received radiation treatments to your chest as a child or a young adult, your risk of breast cancer is higher.

Prevention

Things you can do to reduce your risk of breast cancer

Make changes in your everyday life can help reduce your risk of breast cancer. Try:

Ask about breast cancer screening. Talk with your doctor or other health care professional about when to start screening for breast cancer. Ask about the benefits and risks of the test. Together, you can decide which screening tests for breast cancer are right for you.
Become familiar with your breasts through breast self-exam for breast awareness.You can choose to become familiar with their breasts from time to time inspection of them during a breast self-exam for breast awareness. If there is a new change, a lump or something that is not typical in their breasts, and report to a health care professional immediately. Breast awareness can't prevent breast cancer. But it can help to better understand the look and feel of your breasts. This may make it more likely that you'll notice if something changes.
Drink alcohol only in moderation, if at all. Limit the amount of alcoholic beverages to no more than one drink per day, if you choose to drink. For the prevention of breast cancer, there is no safe amount of alcohol. So if you are very concerned about your risk of breast cancer, you can choose not to drink alcohol.
Exercise most days of the week. Try to do at least 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week. If you haven't been active lately, consult with a medical professional if you feel well and start slowly.
Limit of hormonal therapy for the menopause.The combination of hormone therapy may increase the risk of breast cancer. Talk with a health professional about the benefits and risks of hormone therapy. Some people have symptoms during menopause, causing discomfort. These people may decide that the risks of hormone therapy are acceptable in order to obtain relief. To reduce the risk of breast cancer, the use of the lowest dose of hormone therapy possible for the least amount of time.
Maintain a healthy weight. If your weight is healthy, work to maintain that weight. If you need to lose weight, consult with a health care professional about the healthy ways to lose your weight. Eating fewer calories, and gradually increase the amount of exercise.

Become familiar with your breasts through breast self-exam for breast awareness. You can choose to become familiar with their breasts from time to time inspection of them during a breast self-exam for breast awareness. If there is a new change, a lump or something that is not typical in their breasts, and report to a health care professional immediately.

Breast awareness can't prevent breast cancer. But it can help to better understand the look and feel of your breasts. This may make it more likely that you'll notice if something changes.

Limit of hormonal therapy for the menopause. The combination of hormone therapy may increase the risk of breast cancer. Talk with a health professional about the benefits and risks of hormone therapy.

Some people have symptoms during menopause, causing discomfort. These people may decide that the risks of hormone therapy are acceptable in order to obtain relief. To reduce the risk of breast cancer, the use of the lowest dose of hormone therapy possible for the least amount of time.

Medications and operations to those with a high risk of breast cancer

If you have a high risk of breast cancer, you might consider other options to reduce the risk. You could have a high risk if you have a family history of breast cancer. The risk may also be greater if you have a history of pre-cancerous cells in the breast tissue. Discuss your risk with your health care team. Your computer may have options to reduce the risk, such as:

Preventive medications.The use of estrogen-blocking medicines, may reduce the risk of breast cancer in those who have a high risk. The options include drugs called selective modulators of the estrogen receptor and aromatase inhibitors. These medicines are also used as a hormone therapy treatment for breast cancer. These drugs have a risk of side effects. For this reason, it is used only in those who have a very high risk of breast cancer. Discuss the benefits and risks with your health care team.
Preventive surgery. If you have a very high risk of breast cancer, you may want to consider having surgery to reduce the risk of breast cancer. One option would be surgery to remove the breast, called prophylactic mastectomy. Another option is surgery to remove the ovaries, called prophylactic oophorectomy. This operation reduces the risk of breast cancer and ovarian cancer.

Preventive medications. The use of estrogen-blocking medicines, may reduce the risk of breast cancer in those who have a high risk. The options include drugs called selective modulators of the estrogen receptor and aromatase inhibitors. These medicines are also used as a hormone therapy treatment for breast cancer.

These drugs have a risk of side effects. For this reason, it is used only in those who have a very high risk of breast cancer. Discuss the benefits and risks with your health care team.

Diagnosis

Breast cancer diagnosis often begins with a review and an analysis of their symptoms. Imaging tests can be seen in the tissue of the breast to everything that is not typical. To confirm if there is cancer or not, of a sample of tissue is removed from the breast to the test.

The breast exam

During a clinical breast exam, a health care provider looks at your breasts searching for something that is not typical. This could include changes in the skin or the nipple. Then, the health care professional feels the breast for lumps. The health professional also feels along the collarbone and around the armpits for lumps.

Mammography

A mammogram is an x-ray of the breast tissue. Mammograms are commonly used for the detection of breast cancer. If a screening mammogram is something relative, you might have another mammogram to look at the area more closely. This in more detail mammogram is called a diagnostic mammogram. It is often used to closely look at both breasts.

Breast ultrasound

The ultrasound uses sound waves to make pictures of structures inside the body. A breast ultrasound can give to your health care team for more information about a breast lump. For example, an ultrasound can show if the tumor is a solid mass or a fluid-filled cyst. The health care team uses this information to decide what tests you might need next.

Magnetic resonance imaging of the breast

The machines of magnetic resonance imaging uses a magnetic field and radio waves to create pictures of the inside of the body. A magnetic resonance imaging of the breast can make more detailed images of the breast. Sometimes this method is used to observe closely to any other type of cancer in the affected breast. It can also be used to detect the cancer in the other breast. Before a breast mri , you will usually receive an injection of dye. The dye helps the tissue to see better in the pictures.

Removing a sample of breast cells for testing

A biopsy is a procedure to remove a sample of tissue for testing in a lab. To obtain the sample, a health care professional inserts a needle through the skin and the breast tissue. The health care professional guides the needle through the images created with X-rays, ultrasound, or other types of images. Once the needle reaches the right place, the health care provider uses a needle to remove tissue from the breast. Often, a marker is placed at the location where the tissue sample was removed. The small metal marker is displayed in the test image. The marker helps your health care team to monitor the area of interest.

Testing cells in the laboratory

The tissue sample from a biopsy goes to a laboratory for analysis. The tests can show if the cells in the sample are cancerous. Other tests give information about the type of cancer and how quickly it is growing. Special tests to give more details on the cancer cells. For example, the tests for the hormone receptors on the surface of the cells. Your health care team uses the results of these tests to make a treatment plan.

Staging of breast cancer

Once your healthcare team is diagnosed with breast cancer, you may have other tests to find out the extent of the cancer. This is called the stage of the cancer. Your healthcare team uses the stage of the cancer to understand your prognosis.

Complete information about your stage of cancer may not be available until after undergoing breast cancer surgery.

Tests and procedures used to stage breast cancer may include:

Blood tests, such as a complete blood count and tests to show how well the kidneys and liver are working.
Bone scan.
Computed tomography.
The magnetic resonance imaging .
The positron emission tomography scan, also called a PET.

Not everyone needs all of these tests. Your health care team picks the right of the tests based on your specific situation.

Breast cancer stages range from 0 to 4. A lower number means the cancer is less advanced and more likely to be cured. Stage 0 breast cancer is the cancer that is contained within a duct of the breast. He has not broken to invade the tissue of the breast yet. As the cancer grows in the breast tissue, and it becomes more advanced, the stages get more. A stage 4 breast cancer means that the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.

Treatment

Breast cancer treatment often begins with surgery to remove the cancer. Most people with breast cancer have other treatments after surgery, such as radiation, chemotherapy, and hormone therapy. Some people may have chemotherapy or hormone therapy before surgery. These medications can help reduce the cancer and make it easier to remove.

Your treatment plan will depend on your particular type of breast cancer. Your health care team considers the stage of the cancer, how quickly it is growing and if the cancer cells are sensitive to hormones. Your health care team also considers your overall health and what you prefer.

There are many options for the treatment of breast cancer. It can be overwhelming to consider all the options and make complex decisions about their care. Consider seeking a second opinion from a breast specialist in a breast center or in the clinic. Speak with breast cancer survivors who have faced the same decision.

Breast cancer surgery

Breast cancer surgery usually involves a procedure to remove the breast cancer and a procedure to remove some of the lymph nodes nearby. Operations is used to treat breast cancer include:

Extraction of breast cancer.A lumpectomy is surgery to remove the breast cancer and some healthy tissue around it. The rest of the breast tissue is not removed. Other names for this surgery are breast-conserving surgery and wide local excision. Most of the people who have a lumpectomy, also the therapy with radiation. Lumpectomy could be used to remove a small cancer. Sometimes you may have chemotherapy before surgery to shrink the cancer so that the lumpectomy is possible.
The removal of all the breast tissue.A mastectomy is surgery to remove all breast tissue from a breast. The most common mastectomy procedure of total mastectomy, also called simple mastectomy. This procedure removes the entire breast, including the lobules, ducts, fatty tissue and skin, including the nipple and areola. Mastectomy can be used to remove a large cancer. It may also be necessary when there are multiple areas of cancer in one breast. You could have a mastectomy if you can't or don't want to radiation therapy after surgery. Some of the new types of mastectomy procedures may not remove the skin or the nipple. For example, a skin-sparing mastectomy leaves the skin. A type of mastectomy leaves the nipple and the skin around it, called the areola. These new operations can improve the appearance of the breast after the surgery, but there are options for all tastes.
Removing a couple of lymph nodes. A sentinel lymph node biopsy is a surgery to remove some lymph nodes of the test. When breast cancer spreads, it often goes to the nearby lymph nodes first. To see if the cancer has spread, a surgeon removes some of the lymph nodes near the cancer. If no cancer is found in lymph nodes, the chance of finding cancer in any of the other lymph nodes is small. There are No other nodes need to be removed.
Removal of several lymph nodes. Axillary lymph node dissection is an operation to remove many of the lymph nodes of the armpit. Your breast cancer surgery may include this operation if imaging tests show that the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes. Can also be used if the cancer is found in a sentinel lymph node biopsy.
The removal of both breasts. Some people who have cancer in one breast may choose to have the other breast removed, even if you do not have cancer. This procedure is called a contralateral prophylactic mastectomy. Could be an option if you have a high risk of developing cancer in the other breast. The risk may be higher if you have a strong family history of cancer or changes in the DNA that increase the risk of cancer. The majority of people with breast cancer in one breast will never get cancer in the other breast.

Extraction of breast cancer. A lumpectomy is surgery to remove the breast cancer and some healthy tissue around it. The rest of the breast tissue is not removed. Other names for this surgery are breast-conserving surgery and wide local excision. Most of the people who have a lumpectomy, also the therapy with radiation.

Lumpectomy could be used to remove a small cancer. Sometimes you may have chemotherapy before surgery to shrink the cancer so that the lumpectomy is possible.

The removal of all the breast tissue. A mastectomy is surgery to remove all breast tissue from a breast. The most common mastectomy procedure of total mastectomy, also called simple mastectomy. This procedure removes the entire breast, including the lobules, ducts, fatty tissue and skin, including the nipple and areola.

Mastectomy can be used to remove a large cancer. It may also be necessary when there are multiple areas of cancer in one breast. You could have a mastectomy if you can't or don't want to radiation therapy after surgery.

Some of the new types of mastectomy procedures may not remove the skin or the nipple. For example, a skin-sparing mastectomy leaves the skin. A type of mastectomy leaves the nipple and the skin around it, called the areola. These new operations can improve the appearance of the breast after the surgery, but there are options for all tastes.

Complications of breast cancer surgery depends on the procedures you choose. All operations have a risk of pain, bleeding, and infection. Removal of the lymph nodes in the armpit carries a risk of arm swelling, called lymphedema.

You may choose to have breast reconstruction after the mastectomy surgery. Breast reconstruction is surgery to restore the shape of the breast. The options may include the reconstruction with a breast implant or reconstruction using your own tissue. Consider asking your health care team for a referral to a plastic surgeon before your surgery for breast cancer.

Radiation therapy

Radiation therapy treats cancer with powerful rays of energy. The energy can come from X-rays, protons or other sources.

For the treatment of breast cancer, radiation is the frequency of external-beam radiation. During this type of radiation therapy, you lie on a table while a machine moves around you. The machine directs radiation to precise points on your body. Less frequently, the radiation can be placed inside the body. This type of radiation is known as brachytherapy.

Radiation therapy is often used after surgery. It can kill cancer cells that may remain after surgery. The radiation reduces the risk of the cancer coming back.

Side effects of radiation therapy include feeling very tired and having a sunburn-like rash where the radiation is aimed. The tissue of the breast may also be swollen or feels firmer. Rarely, more serious problems that can happen. These include damage to the heart or to the lungs. Very rarely, a new cancer can grow in the treated area.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy treats the cancer with strong medications. Many chemotherapy drugs exist. The treatment often involves a combination of chemotherapy drugs. Most are administered through a vein. Some are available in pill form.

Chemotherapy for breast cancer is often used after surgery. You can kill any cancer cells that may remain and reduce the risk of the cancer coming back.

Sometimes chemotherapy is given before surgery. Chemotherapy can reduce the cancer of the breast, so that it is easier to remove. Chemotherapy before surgery could also control the cancer that spreads to the lymph nodes. If the lymph nodes do not show signs of cancer after chemotherapy, surgery to remove many of the lymph nodes may not be necessary. How the cancer responds to chemotherapy prior to surgery to help the health professionals to make decisions about what treatments may be needed after the surgery.

When the cancer spreads to other parts of the body, chemotherapy may help to control it. Chemotherapy can relieve the symptoms of advanced cancer, such as pain.

Side effects of chemotherapy depend on the drugs you receive. Common side effects include hair loss, nausea, vomiting, feeling very tired and have a greater risk of getting an infection. Rare side effects can include premature menopause, and nerve damage. On very rare occasions, certain chemotherapy drugs can cause cancer of the blood cells.

Hormone therapy

Hormone therapy uses drugs to block certain hormones in the body. It is a treatment for breast cancers are sensitive to hormones estrogen and progesterone. Health professionals call these types of cancer positive for estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor positive. Cancers are sensitive to hormones, the use of hormones to fuel your growth. Blocking the hormones can cause cancer cells to shrink or die.

Hormone therapy is often used after surgery and other treatments. It can lower the risk that the cancer will come back.

If the cancer spreads to other parts of the body, the hormonal therapy can help to control it.

Treatments that can be used in hormone therapy include:

Medications that block the hormones attach to the cancer cells. These medications are called selective modulators of the estrogen receptor.
Medicines that stop the body from producing estrogen after menopause. These medications are called inhibitors of aromatase.
Surgery or medicines to prevent the ovaries from producing hormones.

Hormone therapy side effects depend on the treatment you receive. Side effects can include hot flashes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness. More serious side effects include the risk of thinning of the bones and blood clots.

Targeted therapy

Targeted therapy uses drugs that attack specific chemicals in cancer cells. By blocking these chemicals, specific treatments can cause cancer cells to die.

The most common drugs of targeted therapy for breast cancer target the HER2 protein . Some breast cancer cells make extra HER2 . This protein helps cancer cells grow and survive. Targeted therapy medicine attacks the cells that are making the extra HER2 and does no harm to healthy cells.

Many other targeted therapy drugs for the treatment of breast cancer. The cancer cells can be tested to see if these medications can help.

The targeted therapy drugs may be used before surgery to reduce the size of a breast cancer and make it easier to remove. Some are used after surgery to decrease the risk that the cancer will come back. Others are used only when the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a treatment with a medication that helps the body's immune system to kill cancer cells. The immune system fights diseases by attacking the germs and other cells that should not be in the body. Cancer cells survive by hiding from the immune system. Immunotherapy helps the cells of the immune system find and kill cancer cells.

Immunotherapy may be an option for the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer. Triple-negative breast cancer means that the cancer cells do not have receptors for estrogen, progesterone or HER2 .

Palliative care

Palliative care is a special type of health care that helps you feel better when you have a serious illness. If you have cancer, palliative care can help relieve the pain and other symptoms. A team of health professionals providing palliative care. The team may include doctors, nurses and other specially trained professionals. Your goal is to improve the quality of life for you and your family.

Palliative care specialists work with you, your family and your health care team to help you to feel better. They provide an extra layer of support, while you have cancer treatment. You can have palliative care at the same time so strong cancer treatments, such as surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

When palliative care is used along with all other appropriate treatments, people with cancer may feel better and live longer.

Alternative medicine

There is No alternative medicine treatments have been found to cure breast cancer. But the complementary and alternative medicine therapies may help you cope with the side effects of treatment.

Alternative medicine for fatigue

Many people with breast cancer have fatigue during and after treatment. This feeling of being very tired and worn out it can continue for years. When combined with the care of your team health care, complementary medicine and alternative therapies can help relieve fatigue.

Talk with your health care team about:

Expressing their feelings. Find an activity that allows you to write or talk about their emotions. Examples include the writing of a diary, to participate in a support group or talking with a counselor.
The gentle exercise. If you receive the approval of your health care team, start with gentle exercise a few times a week. Add more you exercise, as you feel up to it. Consider the possibility of walking, swimming, yoga and tai chi.
Stress management. Take control of the stress in your daily life. Try stress-reduction techniques, such as muscle relaxation, visualization, and spending time with friends and family.

Coping and support

Some breast cancer survivors say that their diagnosis is felt overwhelming at first. It can be stressful to feel overwhelmed at the same time you need to make important decisions about your treatment. In time, you will find ways to cope with your feelings. Until you find what works for you, it might help:

Learn enough about her breast cancer to make decisions about your care

If you want to know more about the breast cancer, ask your health care team for the details of your cancer. Write down the type, stage, and hormone receptor status. Ask for good sources of information where you can learn more about your treatment options.

To know more about cancer and your options can help you feel more confident when making treatment decisions. Even so, some people don't want to know the details of your cancer. If this is how you feel, that your care team that also.

Talk with other survivors of breast cancer

You may find that it is helpful and encouraging to talk with other people who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. Contact with a cancer support organization in your area to find out about support groups near you or online. In the united States, you might start with the American Cancer Society.

Find someone to talk to about your feelings

Find a friend or family member who is a good listener. Or speak with a member of the clergy or a counselor. Ask your health care team for a referral to a counselor or other professional who works with people who have cancer.

Keep your friends and family close

Your family and friends can provide a crucial support network for you during your cancer treatment.

As you start to tell people about your diagnosis of breast cancer, the more likely it is to get a lot of offers of help. Think about the future, about things that you may need help with. Examples include listening when you want to talk or helping with the preparation of meals.

Preparing for your appointment

Make an appointment with a doctor or other health care professional if you have any symptoms that worry you. If an exam or imaging test shows that you might have breast cancer, the healthcare team is likely to see a specialist.

Specialists who care for people with breast cancer include:

Breast health specialists.
Breast surgeons.
Doctors who specialize in diagnostic tests, such as mammograms, called radiologists.
Doctors who specialize in the treatment of cancer, called oncologists.
The doctors who treat cancer with radiation, called radiation oncologists.
Genetic counselors.
The plastic surgeons.

What you can do to prepare

Write down any symptoms you're experiencing, including any that may seem unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment.
Write down key personal information, including any major stresses or recent life changes.
Write your family history of cancer. Note any of the members of the family who have had cancer. Keep in mind that each member has to do with you, the type of cancer, the age at the time of diagnosis, and if each person survived.
Make a list of all medications, vitamins or supplements you are taking.
Maintain all records related to the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Organize your records in a binder or folder that you can take to your appointments.
Consider the possibility of a family member or friend. Sometimes it can be difficult to absorb all of the information provided during an appointment. Someone who accompanies you may remember something that you missed or forgot.
Write questions to ask their health professional.

Questions to ask your doctor

Your time with your health care professional is limited. Prepare a list of questions so that you can make the most of your time together. A list of questions from most important to least important in case time runs out. For breast cancer, some basic questions to ask include:

What type of breast cancer I have?
What is the stage of my cancer?
Can you explain my pathology report for me? I have a copy of my records?
I need more tests?
What treatment options are available for me?
What are the benefits of each treatment is recommended?
What are the side effects of each treatment option?
Treatment of the cause of the menopause?
How will each treatment affect my daily life? Can I keep working?
There is a treatment that we recommend over the others?
How do you know that these treatments will benefit me?
What would you recommend to a friend or family member in my situation?
How much time will I have to make a decision about the treatment for cancer?
What happens if I don't want cancer treatment?
What will be the treatment of cancer of cost?
Does my insurance plan cover the tests and the treatment you are recommending?
Should I seek a second opinion? Will my insurance cover it?
Are there brochures or other printed material that I can take with me? What are the websites and books I recommend?
There are clinical trials or newer treatments that I should consider?

In addition to the questions you have prepared, do not hesitate to ask other questions to think about during your appointment.

What to expect from your doctor

Be prepared to answer some questions about your symptoms and your health, such as:

When did you first begin experiencing symptoms?
The symptoms been continuous or occasional?
How severe are the symptoms?
What, if anything, seems to improve your symptoms?
What, if anything, appears to worsen your symptoms?