Treatment Options for Breast Cancer
Understand your treatment options, before you decide how you will fight breast cancer. You will have many options for surgery, chemo, radiation, targeted biological therapy, and hormone therapy. Know your treatment options helps you make wise decisions.
Breast Reconstruction, Breast Prostheses or Go Natural?
You may be facing the loss of one or both breasts and this leads to yet another decision to make: breast reconstruction, external breast prosthesis, or nothing at all? This is a very personal choice, and your decision may depend on several factors. Learn more about choosing between breast reconstruction, external breast prosthesis, or going natural.
You may be facing the loss of one or both breasts and this leads to yet another decision to make: breast reconstruction, external breast prosthesis, or nothing at all? This is a very personal choice, and your decision may depend on several factors. Learn more about choosing between breast reconstruction, external breast prosthesis, or going natural.
Should I have a mastectomy or a lumpectomy for early-stage br…
Breast cancer surgery can be hard to choose, even if you have early-stage breast cancer. If you've having some anxiety about the possibility of early-stage breast cancer recurrence, then consider survival rates and your breast cancer diagnosis. Here are some breast cancer survival statistics, to help you choose your surgery and avoid recurrence.
Breast cancer surgery can be hard to choose, even if you have early-stage breast cancer. If you've having some anxiety about the possibility of early-stage breast cancer recurrence, then consider survival rates and your breast cancer diagnosis. Here are some breast cancer survival statistics, to help you choose your surgery and avoid recurrence.
Mastectomy Or Lumpectomy 10 Question to Help You Decide
You may be trying to choose between a mastectomy or a lumpectomy. Many women with early-stage breast cancer are given the option to choose which surgery to have for breast cancer. But its not like choosing between a red dress and a pur…
You may be trying to choose between a mastectomy or a lumpectomy. Many women with early-stage breast cancer are given the option to choose which surgery to have for breast cancer. But its not like choosing between a red dress and a pur…
10 Uses For Little Comfort Pillows
Eileen was a six-year breast cancer survivor, and she knew what I needed. Before I had surgery, she brought me a little pillow a sweet little 8" x 11" yellow gingham pillow and it just fit under my arm. Through the next year of treatment, I hung on to that pillow, and it went everywhere with me to the clinic, to the hospital, on short trips, to church, and certainly to bed! The lit…
Eileen was a six-year breast cancer survivor, and she knew what I needed. Before I had surgery, she brought me a little pillow a sweet little 8" x 11" yellow gingham pillow and it just fit under my arm. Through the next year of treatment, I hung on to that pillow, and it went everywhere with me to the clinic, to the hospital, on short trips, to church, and certainly to bed! The lit…
10 Questions to Ask Your Surgeon About Breast Cancer Surgery
You will need surgery to remove cancer from your breast. Before the lumpectomy procedure was developed, and when doctors made all the decisions for you, a mastectomy was the only surgery offered for breast cancer. Since the mid 1970's, patients have been offered more choices and…
You will need surgery to remove cancer from your breast. Before the lumpectomy procedure was developed, and when doctors made all the decisions for you, a mastectomy was the only surgery offered for breast cancer. Since the mid 1970's, patients have been offered more choices and…
How To Pack For The Hospital
Pack the right things to take to the hospital for your breast surgery. It's not like staying in a hotel, but there are things you should leave at home, and things you should take with you to the hospital. Here's a packing list for your hospital visit.
Pack the right things to take to the hospital for your breast surgery. It's not like staying in a hotel, but there are things you should leave at home, and things you should take with you to the hospital. Here's a packing list for your hospital visit.
Cancer Advice: Working With Your Nurse to Get the Best Care
Oncology nurses work with you and your supporters to get you through many aspects of breast cancer treatment. They are your partners in fighting cancer -- wonderful sources of knowledge and wisdom. Oncology nurses have been specially trained and certified to teach you, treat you, and help you navigate treatment and recovery. Here are 11 pieces of …
Oncology nurses work with you and your supporters to get you through many aspects of breast cancer treatment. They are your partners in fighting cancer -- wonderful sources of knowledge and wisdom. Oncology nurses have been specially trained and certified to teach you, treat you, and help you navigate treatment and recovery. Here are 11 pieces of …
About Getting a Second Opinion
Before you begin treatment, you may want to make sure of your diagnosis and know that your treatment plan is the best one for you. Getting a second opinion is a good way to explore your options. Going to see a second doctor is a recommended and acceptable practice, and your doctor should have no objections.
Before you begin treatment, you may want to make sure of your diagnosis and know that your treatment plan is the best one for you. Getting a second opinion is a good way to explore your options. Going to see a second doctor is a recommended and acceptable practice, and your doctor should have no objections.
Members of Your Cancer Treatment Team
Fighting breast cancer takes a team of medical professionals. Some cancer clinics work as a team, or you may put together your own cancer treatment team. Here's what the members of your cancer treatment team will do to fight your cancer.
Fighting breast cancer takes a team of medical professionals. Some cancer clinics work as a team, or you may put together your own cancer treatment team. Here's what the members of your cancer treatment team will do to fight your cancer.
Hormone Therapy for Breast Cancer
Hormone therapy is important for you if you've been diagnosed with estrogen-receptor positive breast cancer. Hormones like estrogen and progesterone fuel 80% of all breast cancers. Hormone therapy lowers your hormone levels and prevents recurrence and slows disease progression. Learn more about types of hormone therapy here.
Hormone therapy is important for you if you've been diagnosed with estrogen-receptor positive breast cancer. Hormones like estrogen and progesterone fuel 80% of all breast cancers. Hormone therapy lowers your hormone levels and prevents recurrence and slows disease progression. Learn more about types of hormone therapy here.
What Is Intraoperative Radiation Therapy (IORT) for Breast Cancer?
Intraoperative Radiation Therapy (IORT) for breast cancer is done right in the operating room, with only one radiation treatment. In the United States, intraoperative radiation therapy is still in clinical trials, but may someday be available for breast cancer patients with early-stage, low grade tumors. Learn more about the basics of intraoperative radiation therapy here.
Intraoperative Radiation Therapy (IORT) for breast cancer is done right in the operating room, with only one radiation treatment. In the United States, intraoperative radiation therapy is still in clinical trials, but may someday be available for breast cancer patients with early-stage, low grade tumors. Learn more about the basics of intraoperative radiation therapy here.
Breast Cancer Radiation Methods
You may need breast radiation treatments after a lumpectomy, or a mastectomy, if your lymph nodes contained cancer cells. Radiation is done to kill any cancer cells that may remain in your breast, axillary tissue, or chest wall. Radiation treatments are usually done in a clini…
You may need breast radiation treatments after a lumpectomy, or a mastectomy, if your lymph nodes contained cancer cells. Radiation is done to kill any cancer cells that may remain in your breast, axillary tissue, or chest wall. Radiation treatments are usually done in a clini…
Chemotherapy Basics for Breast Cancer
Many breast cancer patients need to take chemotherapy treatments to prevent a recurrence, or shrink a tumor, or help control the disease. Chemotherapy affects healthy tissue as well as cancer cells, and may cause side effects. Learn about the most standard chemo regimens for breast cancer, and how they may affect your cancer and your fertility. Understand the basics of chemotherapy for breast cancer.
Many breast cancer patients need to take chemotherapy treatments to prevent a recurrence, or shrink a tumor, or help control the disease. Chemotherapy affects healthy tissue as well as cancer cells, and may cause side effects. Learn about the most standard chemo regimens for breast cancer, and how they may affect your cancer and your fertility. Understand the basics of chemotherapy for breast cancer.
Breast Cancer and Adjuvant Systemic Therapy
An important part of breast cancer treatment is adjuvant systemic therapy. There are three types of adjuvant systemic therapy which are used after surgery. Learn more about adjuvant therapy and how to make the best treatment decisions.
An important part of breast cancer treatment is adjuvant systemic therapy. There are three types of adjuvant systemic therapy which are used after surgery. Learn more about adjuvant therapy and how to make the best treatment decisions.
Best Ways to Cope With Breast Cancer Treatment
Treatments for breast cancer can take the stuffing out of you. You need a break - no, make that several breaks! Sometimes you just have to give yourself permission to take special care of yourself. My support group came up with at least 10 Ways to Cut Yourself Some Slack - what's your secret for coping during treatment?
Treatments for breast cancer can take the stuffing out of you. You need a break - no, make that several breaks! Sometimes you just have to give yourself permission to take special care of yourself. My support group came up with at least 10 Ways to Cut Yourself Some Slack - what's your secret for coping during treatment?
Breast Cancer Treatment and Fertility - Chemotherapy Affects Fertility
Chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer has many side effects, one of which is estrogen suppression. This can cause your ovaries to stop working temporarily or permanently. Many women are shocked when they finish chemotherapy and find that their ability to conceive is gone. Sometimes doctors forget to inform patients, and sometimes patients forget to ask about this issue. How did you feel whe…
Chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer has many side effects, one of which is estrogen suppression. This can cause your ovaries to stop working temporarily or permanently. Many women are shocked when they finish chemotherapy and find that their ability to conceive is gone. Sometimes doctors forget to inform patients, and sometimes patients forget to ask about this issue. How did you feel whe…
Breast Cancer Pretreatment Essentials - Pretreatment Essentials
Getting ready to start treatment for breast cancer requires some planning. You may want to take a trip, have a dental exam, shop for a wig, stock your freezer, and get some comfortable clothing. What's your most essential thing to do before starting treatment?
Getting ready to start treatment for breast cancer requires some planning. You may want to take a trip, have a dental exam, shop for a wig, stock your freezer, and get some comfortable clothing. What's your most essential thing to do before starting treatment?
Getting Second Opinions About Breast Cancer Treatment
Getting a second opinion on breast cancer treatment is a good idea. A second opinion gives you more options, and may result in better treatment. Share your experience with getting a second opinion about breast cancer treatment.
Getting a second opinion on breast cancer treatment is a good idea. A second opinion gives you more options, and may result in better treatment. Share your experience with getting a second opinion about breast cancer treatment.