Introduction

“When I was first diagnosed with cancer, the nurse sat me down and said, ‘You have cancer ~ but this is not a medical emergency.’

That simple sentence told me that I had time: time to read about my treatment options, to ask my physician questions, to obtain second opinions, to talk with my friends and family, to speak with other breast cancer survivors about their treatment decisions, to determine the course of treatment that I wanted to take, and to prepare myself and my family for my treatment.”

Tammy Buelt, 5-year breast cancer survivor

No single treatment is best for all women. If you are reading this pamphlet, it is likely that you have been diagnosed with breast cancer or that you have a friend or family member with this disease. This website information is provided to help you make the necessary decisions ~ to help you learn about your treatment options. Today more than ever, it is important that you be an informed patient.

You may be experiencing all sorts of feelings. You may be worried, anxious, or overwhelmed. It might be difficult for you to concentrate. Reading this pamphlet may also be difficult.

It is likely that you will learn many new words. You might be amazed by the amount of information you are given, the choices and the decisions you must make. This pamphlet is provided as a guide, to assist you in this journey. It is our hope that with this knowledge you will be able to confidently participate in treatment planning.

Much of the information in this booklet is from resources provided by the National Institute of Health. As a free public service of the National Cancer Institute, materials are sent to patients, the public, and health professionals. Their toll free number is 1-800-4-CANCER. Their homepage (nci.nih.gov) contains information about the Institute and its programs. Two brochures were especially helpful in writing this pamphlet: “What you need to know about Breast Cancer” and “Understanding Breast Cancer Treatment, A guide for Patients.”

Other resources were also helpful, including a brochure produced by the State of California entitled, “ A Woman’s Guide to Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment,” Dr. Susan Love’s Breast Book by Susan M. Love, M.D. with Karen Lindsey published by Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, and the website WebMD.com.

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