I’ve Been Diagnosed with Breast Cancer... Now What?
by Elizabeth Miller
Hearing the words “you have breast cancer” is completely overwhelming! Know you’re not alone when you’re not able to sleep, when you have trouble eating, or when you can’t focus on anything else.
I can tell you with certainty, the most difficult time is when you first hear your diagnosis. The waiting and not knowing what lies ahead is incredibly difficult. Here are a few things that will make your treatment journey more manageable:
Elizabeth Miller and Family
Educate yourself as there are different types of breast cancer. Find out as much as you can about your type – Estrogen, Progesterone, HER2, or TNBC. But get the facts! The internet can be an
overwhelming and even misleading place. Most physicians’ offices have literature available for their patients – and that’s the stuff worth reading.
Write down questions you may have prior to your appointments.
Have a loved one with you at all your appointments to take notes. I promise you won’t hear anything after hearing words like “double mastectomy”, “chemotherapy”, or “radiation”.
Understand that you may have a team of doctors, not just one guiding your care. An oncologist,
a breast cancer surgeon, a plastic surgeon, and a radiation oncologist are among the physicians who may make up your care team.
Start a notebook or binder to keep the information you collect at appointments, test results, treatment program outlines, and doctor contacts.
Become familiar with your hospital portal and log in for checking on appointment times and test results. This will become an important tool to communicate with your doctors.
Use your assigned Nurse Navigator for questions and support. Your Nurse Navigator is a gift!
Join a support group – whether in person or on social media. There are a large number of social media groups for breast cancer survivors. You can find groups for all breast cancer survivors in general, along with groups dedicated to specific types of breast cancer. For example, there are support groups for Stage 4 patients, TNBC patients, or
DCIS patients. Find what works for you.
Talk to others who have walked through a similar breast cancer diagnosis, but know everyone’s journey is very different.
Begin to explore post-surgery options for bras and prosthetics as there are many options. Two of my favorites are from Athleta and Handful.com.
Be an advocate for yourself and know it’s okay to get a second opinion.
Let friends and family help you!
Try to maintain a normal lifestyle with work and activities.
Develop your own coping strategies – exercise, meditation, yoga, journaling, and seeking spiritual support are all terrific options.
For Your Notebook
Visit this link for a helpful checklist created by Elizabeth and her dear friend, Maria Fisher, a TNBC metaplastic patient.