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About Breast Cancer
Overview
Who Is At Risk
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How Cancer Begins
Metastasis
Ductal Carcinoma
Lobular Carcinoma
Symptoms
Screening Tests and Early Detection
Diagnostic Tests
Grading the Tumor
Staging of Breast Cancer
Questions To Ask Your Doctor
Local Treatment
Breast Reconstruction
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When Cancer Recurs
Treatment
Systemic Therapy
Clinical Trials
Treatment of Specific Sites of Metastases
Palliative Care
Glossary

Questions  

The American Cancer Society suggests you ask your doctor the following questions when you receive a diagnosis of breast cancer so that you will be better informed of your disease and treatment choices. Being well informed about your cancer will give you confidence in your treatment choices and will help form a more rewarding and effective partnership with your doctor.

  1. What type of breast cancer do I have?

  2. What is the stage of my cancer and how does it affect my treatment options and prognosis?

  3. Has my cancer spread to lymph nodes or internal organs?

  4. What treatments are appropriate for me? What do you recommend? Why?

  5. What are the risks or side effects that I should expect?

  6. How effective will breast reconstruction surgery be in my case if I need it or want it?

  7. What should I do to get ready for treatment?

  8. Should I follow a special diet?

  9. Will I be able to have children after my treatment?

  10. Will I go through menopause as a result of the treatment?

  11. What are the chances of recurrence of my cancer with the treatment programs we have discussed?



Additional questions from the National Cancer Institute include:

  1. What are the results of my estrogen and progesterone tests? What were the results of other tests (flow cytometry and other markers for tumor aggressiveness)?

  2. What tests will I have before surgery to see if the cancer has spread to other organs (liver, lungs, bones)?


The Oncology Team

Cancer is a very complex disease and usually requires a combination of treatments to effectively combat it. Each type of treatment is highly specialized and requires trained cancer doctors to prescribe and provide each type of treatment.

Oncology is the study or science of cancer. An "oncologist" is a doctor who specializes in the treatment of cancer. A "surgical oncologist" specializes in removing cancers by surgery. A "radiation oncologist" specializes in treating cancer with radiation, and a "medical oncologist" specializes in using chemotherapy or hormone therapy to treat cancer. A "pathologist" is a doctor who indentifies diseases by studying cells and tissues under a microscope. A "radiologist" is a doctor with special training in reading and interpreting diagnostic x-rays and performing specialized x-ray procedures.

All of these specialized doctors or oncologists, along with oncology nurses, social workers, clinical dieticians, and physical or occupational therapists, come together to form a cancer care team or "oncology team." Together they plan and design a treatment plan that is individualized to the patient's particular cancer and life situation. Which oncologist a person sees and the order in which they see them will depend on the particular type of breast cancer and stage of disease.

Although the list of specialists above may seem extraordinarily long, each doctor plays a critical role in the treatment plan, and they work together to design the best treatment and outcome for the patient. Be certain to develop and ask questions specific to the skill and field of each specialist, seeking second opinions where necessary.

Making a treatment decision is a difficult task. Your decision can permanently affect the quality of your life after therapy. When making a treatment decision, there are five general areas you may want to consider:

  1. Information about the cancer, such as the stage of the disease, size of the tumor, number of lymph nodes involved, presence or absence of distant metastases (cancer that has spread to other organs or areas of the body), and the results of any prognostic tests such as the estrogen/progesterone receptor status and HER-2/neu status
  2. Your age
  3. Your menstrual status (premenopausal or postmenopausal)
  4. Your general health other medical conditions and personal preferences
  5. The risks, benefits and impact on quality of life for each treatment
  6. Your tolerance for potential side effects and the effect these may have on the quality of your life after treatment.


Making a decision about your treatment plan, of course, must include the advice of a qualified medical specialist. Most healthcare organizations, including the American Cancer Society (ACS), recommend getting a second opinion before embarking on any treatment plan.



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This content is reviewed regularly. Last Updated 6/6/2007



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