Now what do I do? Choices!

Knowledge is power!  You have choices to make, listen to your friends or family, your doctor(s).  Then make choices for your body, your life! 

Every female breast cancer patient must ask herself some hard questions such as these:

• What kinds of side effects are you willing to accept? 
• What will you go through for a small chance to live longer? 

  http://qualitycareguide.stopbreastcancer.org/choice/decision.html

• Read cure (Cancer Updates, Research & Education; curetoday.com) 2011 Edition CANCER RESOURCE GUIDE written in association with the American Cancer Society (ACS).  Call the ACS at 800.227.2345 for a copy (free or $4.99)

• Read Dr. Susan B. Love's Breast Book, available at Amazon.com (new or used), "the bible" for information.   My surgeon gave a copy to me.

• Beware of  "Choices according to the Bible of the Most Recent Clinical Study."   When researching the net for help, review clinical study participant number, who did a study, and specifics; when a study was done and by whom~look for a trend (3 studies with similar results) in results/credibility.

• Pray, invite people to add you to their prayer groups.  God loves you because you are breathing.  If you do not believe in God, that's okay...remember many people love you. 

• Understand your Pathology Report.  http://www.amoena.com/tbcs/NewlyDiagnosed/BeforeSurgery/UnderstandingYourPathologyReport.htm

• Realize that treatment choices are in your hands.   Ask yourself about practical considerations, your age, your priorities to name just a few.

• Consider the free web site CaringBridge.com, a private communication web site, to be supported in love and support your friends and relatives in love.  Studies show people who express themselves and receive moral support fair 2 to 4 times better (healthier) than those who do not.

• 15 years ago I underwent a lumpectomy only for a different primary bc site; said "no thank you" to radiation following surgery for Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS) breast cancer, Stage 0 (based on my specific diagnosis and pathology).  10 years later my oncologist told me the survivability difference between those with my specific DCIS diagnosis/pathology between those who chose radiation and those who did not (I did not) was 5%, meaning I fell into the 95% who had no recurrence.  Radiation was contraversial then, as it frequently is

  ~now for micrometastases discovered in sentinal node biopsy pathology.

  The fact is I gambled 15 years ago and "won" with my 1st primary site ~ only to have another _ discovered 15 years later.  I am gambling again.

• Bottom line:  do your research, talk with people you trust, listen to your wisdom ~ then make YOUR healthy choices for you!

 You too have miles to go...