About Breast Cancer
Just Been Diagnosed?
If you have recently been diagnosed with breast cancer we would like to acknowledge your challenge and wish you the very best for your journey
You will probably be offered lots of advice. We suggest you...
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Think about what you need to get you through this time
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Be an active participant in your health care
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Get the information you need to manage your health in the best way for you
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Take one step at a time
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Ask questions, until you understand the answers
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Don't rush your decisions
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Speak up if you have concerns or questions
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Consider taking someone close to you to all medical appointments
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Find a medical team that will work for and with you – be aware you can ask for a second opinion
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Don't be afraid to ask for help
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Be gentle on yourself
We know that this can be a difficult and confusing time for you and your loved ones.. Please do not hesitate to call us on 9324 2703, if you would like to talk with our McGrath Specialist Breast Care Nurse or Counsellor.
My Journey kit
The My Journey Kit is a free comprehensive information resource. It has been developed by women who have had breast cancer for women newly diagnosed with breast cancer and is produced by the Breast Cancer Network of Australia.
Telephone the Breast Cancer Network of Australia's automated request line on 1300 78 55 62 for your copy,
24 hours a day, 7 days a week or order online at www.bcna.org.au.
Questions for the Doctor
When you visit your doctor you will probably be given a lot of information, but you may not be able to remember it afterwards. It is a good idea to take someone with you - maybe a trusted friend, husband/partner or other relative.
Many people find it helpful to write down their questions before the appointment time. Ask all your questions before you leave! Perhaps you could ask the person who accompanies you to write down the answers. Some doctors have general information sheets available, some are happy for you to take a tape recording of the conversation. (Ask permission before you switch it on, however.)
Some questions you may want to ask…
Questions about the test results
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What are the test results and what do they mean?
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Your doctor may refer to the stage of your breast cancer. Stages are a way of summarising some of the information in the pathology report. They are numbered from zero (0) to four (IV).
o Stage 0 refers to pre-invasive breast cancer such as ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) or lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS)
o Stage I, Stage IIA and Stage IIB (early) refer to early breast cancer
o Stage IIB (advanced) Stage IIIA, Stage IIIB, Stage IIIC, Stage IV refer to advanced breast cancer.
Questions about breast cancer
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What is early breast cancer?
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Where exactly is my breast cancer?
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Can this form of breast cancer be inherited? Should I be tested for this?
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What are the chances of it coming back in the same breast after treatment?
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What are the chances of getting it in the other breast?
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What are the chances of it spreading to other parts of my body?
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Will it be possible for me to have children and breastfeed after treatment for breast cancer?
Questions about your treatment
Your doctor may fully describe your treatment, but these are some of the things you may also want to know:
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What are my treatment options?
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Which treatment do you recommend?
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What are the benefits of each type of treatment?
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What are the risks of the treatment?
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What are the side effects of the treatment?
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How successful is the treatment?
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I’d like to think about it before making a decision – will a couple of weeks make a difference?
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Where do I go for the treatment?
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How long will the treatment take?
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How much will the treatment cost?
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Are there alternative/complementary treatments that might help me?
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Can I have alternative/complementary treatments at the same time as the prescribed treatment?
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Can I take The Pill (oral contraceptives) during the treatment? What are the risks if I get pregnant during treatment?
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Can I take The Pill after the treatment?
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Will I experience early menopause?
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Can I have Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) during or when I’ve finished the treatment?
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Can I work while on the treatment?
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Can I seek another medical opinion?
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What if I decide not to have the treatment?
Source: National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre
Your feelings
If you have been given a diagnosis of breast cancer you may be experiencing a storm of emotions. You could feel fear, anger, disbelief, confusion or you might just feel numb. Some women say that it is as if it is happening to someone else. All of these are normal reactions to what is overwhelming news!
Sharing your feelings with someone else can help you to cope with your diagnosis and to sort out all of the information that you will be given. It may be helpful for you to talk to a close family member or friend about the details of the diagnosis and the treatment options you may be given.
Knowing as much as possible about your diagnosis can also help you to understand what is happening to you. You can access more information from this website or contact our Breast Care Nurse by email on info@breastcancer.org.au or telephone 9324 3703 to speak to a counsellor or one of the support services team. We also have a boutique library that contains books, CDs and tapes that may be of help to you.
Above all remember that you do not need to rush into decisions about your treatment if you do not understand them.
Breaking the news
There’s no easy way to break the news to friends, family and colleagues. No-one has come up with a magic formula. For some women it doesn’t go according to plan and the news just tumbles out. Others find they can choose a quiet, private moment, over a coffee or a drink. The important thing is to tell someone, so that they can help you in your journey.
The news that a loved one has been diagnosed with breast cancer can be every bit as devastating for family and friends. Remember too that this diagnosis will affect those around you in possibly as many ways as it affects you, although they may express it differently.
Children are perceptive and pick up on changes around about them. Keeping things from them can cause confusion and insecurity. Depending upon their age and development, they should be given as much or as little information as satisfies them about what is happening. They may need reassurance about how this will affect their basic needs, such as who will care for them if, for example, their primary carer (mother) is away for treatment.
The Teenage years are a time of transition from childhood to adulthood and can for some, be confusing at the best of times. When a parent is diagnosed with cancer, teens need information, support, practical tips and advice. The following websites are excellent resources:
www.myparentscancer.com.au – a resource of National Breast and Ovarian Cancer
www.canTeen.org.au – the Australian organisation for teens living with cancer, including the siblings and offspring of those diagnosed
www.nowwhat.org.au – a resource of CanTeen specifically for teens whose parents have been diagnosed.
The Breast Cancer Foundation has volunteers who have been similarly affected, who are willing to help you through this difficult time. Contact the BCFWA on 9324 3703 or info@breastcancer.org.au for help.
