2.3 million women in the United States are living with a breast cancer diagnosis. A diagnosis of breast cancer brings with it many questions, and requires sudden decision making about surgery and treatment. With this comes the need to learn an overwhelming amount of new information at a rapid rate, and to become familiar with new concepts and strange medical jargon.
You may currently be experiencing strong emotions such as anxiety, fear, sorrow or anger. It can be difficult to think clearly while experiencing such strong emotions, but dealing with a breast cancer diagnosis requires that you be at your most focused, because with breast cancer, education is empowerment.
When breast cancer is detected at an early stage of development, a number of effective treatment options are available. A woman and her physician will choose the treatment that is right for her, based on the location and extent of the cancer, her age and preferences, and the risks and benefits of each treatment. The basic treatment choices for breast cancer are surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and hormonal therapy, not necessarily in that order. Local treatments such as breast surgery and radiation therapy are focused on the breast itself to remove or destroy the cancer cells confined to the breast. Systemic treatments such as chemotherapy and hormonal therapy aim to destroy the cancer cells that may have spread throughout the body.
Though fighting breast cancer may be one of the toughest life challenges you may encounter, it is important to understand that you do not have to face it alone.
Survivors
Nearly 2.3 million women in the USA have or have had breast tumors, making them the largest group of cancer survivors, according to a report in 2005 from the Institute of Medicine, which advises Congress on health.
As breast cancer survivors go on with their lives, there are many changes they will face in the months and years after completing their treatment. Breast cancer survivors are faced with the possibility of the cancer coming back (recurrence), as well as an increased risk of developing a new breast cancer. Recurrence is possible, even if a woman has undergone a mastectomy, or breast removal.
The good news is, although there is no way to completely prevent a breast cancer recurrence, there are many ways for a woman to lower her risk.
I know survivors and am one myself...so always do self exams, and please if you feel a lump or something that just doesn't seem right...see your doctor...
