October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and it’s important to take the lessons learned this month into every month of the year to make sure you are able to screen and catch problems before they get worse. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), breast cancer is just second to skin cancer in women. Learn the early signs of breast cancer so that you are empowered to take control over your health.
Early detection is key: What are early signs of breast cancer
Questions to ask an oncologist for breast cancer
It’s important to see a doctor whenever you detect anything unusual with your breasts. Your doctor will order a mammogram and may also biopsy the lump so that you know exactly what you’re dealing with. If it is determined that your lump is malignant, you will be referred to an oncologist to review the next steps.
While you probably have a lot of questions swirling in your head, there are some specific things you’ll want to ask your doctor so that you can fully assess your situation and prognosis.
Questions to ask your oncologist according to the American Cancer Society:
- What type of breast cancer is it?
- Where exactly is it and how big is the cancer?
- Do we know if the breast cancer has spread to lymph nodes or other organs?
- What stage of cancer do I have and what does that mean for treatment?
- What other tests are necessary to develop a treatment plan?
- What does hormone receptor status mean and where am I with that? (When your breast cancer has estrogen or progesterone receptors, hormones attaching to them can fuel cancer growth.)
- What does HER2 status mean and where am I with that? (Found on the outside of all breast cells, higher levels of HER2 need to be specifically targeted for optimal treatment and slow the spread of the cancer.)
- What are my chances of survival based on how far along my cancer is?
- What is genetic testing and should I consider it?
- How do I get a copy of my pathology report?
- Who do I speak with regarding how my insurance coverage works?
Take action to get an annual mammogram and do regular self exams to identify abnormalities early on.
