Newly Diagnosed: What's Next?
A new breast cancer diagnosis can be very overwhelming. Many newly diagnosed breast cancer patients find themselves feeling a whole range of emotions, including fear, anger, surprise, anxiety, sadness, isolation, and overwhelm. Adding to this stressful time, the days and weeks that follow diagnosis are also filled with a lot of appointments and decisions to make.
Recent surveys by the National Coalition of Cancer Survivors show that cancer patients who actively participated in treatment decisions felt significantly better prepared to cope with the impact of that treatment on their life and with the transition into survivorship after treatment was over. At Going Beyond the Pink, we know that getting organized early on will help ease the transition from diagnosis to treatment and help you to make informed decisions about your care plan. Your oncologists will make recommendations about your treatment plan based on what they know about the specifics of your cancer, but ultimately, the decision to proceed with treatment and the kind of treatment is up to you. Arming yourself with the facts about your cancer and the reasoning behind your oncologists recommendation can help you make a decision you feel good about and empowers you to be your best health advocate.
To help you prepare, we’ve compiled a list of questions you might want to ask your oncologist:
What type of Breast cancer do I have? Is my cancer invasive?
How big is the cancer and where is it located?
Has my cancer spread to any other organs/my lymph nodes?
What is my hormone receptor status? What is my HER2 status?
How quickly is my cancer growing? What grade is my tumor?
What is the stage of the cancer and what does that mean? How large is my tumor?
Will I need to do other tests before beginning treatment?
Am I a candidate for Oncotype DX®, or other diagnostic tests? Should I think about genetic testing?
How do you determine the recommended treatment for my cancer?
Why do you recommend this course of treatment in this order?
Do I need to see other health professionals? Who do you recommend and why?
Will my team of doctors communicate about my case? If so, how do you share information?
What are my chances of survival, based on my cancer right now? How likely is my cancer to recur?
How do I get a copy of my pathology report and other medical records?
If I am concerned about the costs and insurance coverage, who can help me?
How much experience do you have treating the type of cancer I have?
Should I get a second opinion? And how do I do so?
Is a clinical trial appropriate for me?
What are my goals of treatment?
How long will my treatment last? What will the process be like? Where will it be done?
Is there anything I can do to prepare for treatment?
Are there any risks or side effects from the treatment that I should know about?
How will treatment affect my daily life? How will this affect my work?
What are the next steps if the treatment doesn’t work?
What haven’t I asked that I need to know?
Check with your local cancer center or treatment facility to see if they provide support for newly diagnosed patients, and reach out to local community organizations whose mission is to support you through diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship. Going Beyond the Pink is proud to offer free virtual (telehealth or phone) consultations and support resources curated for your specific needs. Our certified Oncology Patient Navigator is here to help!