Knowing what to do in the aftermath of a breast cancer diagnosis is of vital importance. [Photo/japantimes.co.j]
No doubt, a breast cancer diagnosis is scary.
What do you do?
Who do you call?
Where do you go?
Well, it’s important to understand that you have more options than ever before and when it comes to beating this cancer, knowledge is power.
It may not necessarily be a medical emergency.
The most common reaction to a diagnosis is for the patient to want to have the tumor removed as soon as possible.
Although this knee-jerk reaction as a result of fear is easy to understand, in the vast majority of cases, it’s unwarranted.
Patients should take a step back, consider all aspects of their diagnosis and explore all options for therapy.
Remember: Not all breast cancers are the same.
Get the facts
This means learning all you can about the specifics of cancer and how best to treat it.
This is, especially important because cancer treatments vary greatly.
It is often a good idea to ask your doctor for recommendations about where to get information about your particular cancer.
Bring another set of ears with you
Doctors go over a lot of information at a cancer consultation, so bringing a second set of ears to help digest the information is advisable.
Get a family member or a friend to accompany you during hospital visits.
At the very least, someone should take notes during appointments.
Get a second opinion
Your doctor may not necessarily tell you to seek a second opinion, but it wouldn’t hurt.
Worst-case scenario, you waste a bit of time, the best-case scenario is that you may find out that you should be receiving a different treatment.
Another bonus: You might find out you’re comfortable getting the recommended treatment.
Get a support team
Few women are prepared for a breast cancer diagnosis and many find themselves reacting to a challenging situation while emotionally distracted.
Complementary or alternative treatment may help
Many breast cancer patients have found emotional and spiritual benefits from integrative and complementary medicine, including massage therapy, acupuncture, stress management, nutrition, and psycho-oncology.
However, this should not be a primary course of treatment.