I Am Afraid My Cancer Will Come Back
It is very reassuring to know that you are doing \”something\” to fight the cancer every time you visit your healthcare provider. When that visual and experiential reinforcement is no…
Posts by month
April 2020
25 posts
Mastectomy: options for breast reconstruction
There are several options for breast reconstruction after mastectomy. It is important to consult with a board certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon about options that are available to you based…
Hormonal Therapy
The term hormone therapy can sometimes be misleading. In the treatment of breast cancer it refers to \”anti-hormone\” therapy. Many types of breast cancer depend on hormones for growth. Manipulating…
Chemotherapy And Its Side Effects
Chemotherapy is a systemic treatment that is intended to kill cancer cells in the body. All types of chemotherapy have the potential for side effects, some of which can be…
What To Expect From Radiation
Radiation therapy is given to breast cancer patients after a lumpectomy or partial mastectomy in order to reduce the likelihood of a local recurrence–to prevent the tumor from growing back…
Lymphedema treatment & prevention
Lymphedema is a swelling of the arm on the side of the body where breast or lymph node surgery (or radiation of the lymph nodes) was performed. The swelling is…
Mastectomy vs. Lumpectomy
Clinical studies have demonstrated that there is a small difference in the survival rates for women who have invasive breast cancer and choose lumpectomy instead of a mastectomy. Each person…
Am I going to die?
The five year relative survival rate is 95% for women with early stage breast cancer. However, when faced with a life-threatening illness it is natural to be anxious about the…
Questions To Ask Your Doctor
Communicating With Your Doctors How much information do I want to be told about my diagnosis, or health status? How do I want my doctors to communicate with me about…
Day to Day Living: Breast cancer and the workplace
Employment You may find that insurance considerations play an important role in your employment options. Many women who have had breast cancer express frustration about their inability to seek new…