Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Questions to Ask the Doctor

Medical Author: Jerry Balentine, DO, FACEP
Medical Editor: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

• I may have breast cancer, what questions should I ask my doctor?
• Is the doctor sure I have breast cancer?
• What kind of breast cancer do I have?
• What difference does a precise diagnosis make?
• What has been done to exclude cancer in other areas of the same breast or in my other breast?
• What type of medical team do I need for the most accurate diagnosis?
  • How important is the role of the pathologist reading my slides?
  • Have my slides been reviewed by more than one pathologist?
  • Can I have my biopsy reviewed by a pathologist at another diagnostic center?
• Is my family history relevant to my diagnosis?
• What other studies should be done on my tissue biopsy?
• How urgent is it that I make decisions and begin treatment?
  • Are there controversies in the recommended treatments among reputable experts?
  • How might my treatment affect future risks and follow-up treatment?
  • Should genetic testing be part of the treatment decision process?
• Should I stop taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT)?
• Even though my breast tumor does not have hormone receptors, should I take tamoxifen to reduce the risk of a new tumor?
• I have a ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), a type of localized cancer. Why have I been advised to have a mastectomy when other women with invasive cancer have lumpectomies?
• Should I start chemotherapy before surgery?
• If I am advised to have a mastectomy, what are the risks and benefits of immediate breast reconstruction?
• Should my lymph nodes be removed?
• What is a sentinel lymph node biopsy, and what are its benefits and risks?
• Are there any other questions I should ask my doctor?

New Book and Web Site Provide Breast Cancer Support for Men By Laura Lee Bloor MedicineNet.com Reviewed by Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD After John W. Anderson lost his mother in 1988 to a 10-year battle with breast cancer, he had hoped that would be the last time he would encounter the condition. Then in January of 2001, his wife, Sharon Rapoport, was diagnosed with breast cancer. She had no family history of it, as do 85% of other women who are diagnosed. Just a little over one year later, Anderson's younger sister, Mary Enright, was diagnosed with breast cancer. Anderson has also witnessed his mother's best friend, Caryl Spease, and his good friend, Brenda Foster, fight breast cancer. With one in eight women developing breast cancer at some time in their life, Anderson knew he couldn't be the only man helping multiple women battle the condition. As he sought advice on how to cope, as well as how best to support the women he loved, he soon discovered few resources were available for men. "There was some stuff out there but not really a guidebook," he said. "[And I thought] I need to do something about this. There are a lot of guys who need help, and they're not getting it." In response, Anderson wrote the newly released Stand by Her: A Breast Cancer Guide for Men. The book takes a step-by-step approach for men on how to handle a breast cancer diagnosis. It uses a lot of personal stories so that other guys know they're not alone in their experiences, Anderson said. Read on to get tips for men to help the women in their lives battle breast cancer » Top Searched Breast Cancer Terms: stages, symptoms, treatments, type, research, lumps, chemotherapy, mastectomy,  mammogram, tamoxifen, diagnosis, breast self-exam, radiation, Herceptin, inflammatory, screening, prevention

I may have breast cancer, what questions should I ask my doctor?

If you have received a positive or possible diagnosis of breast cancer, there are a number of questions that you can ask your doctor. The answers you receive to these questions should give you a better understanding of your specific diagnosis and the corresponding treatment. It is usually helpful to write your questions down before you meet with your health-care provider. This gives you the opportunity to ask all your questions in an organized fashion.

Each question is followed by a brief explanation as to why that particular question is important. We will not attempt to answer these questions in detail here because each individual case is just that, individual. This outline is designed to provide a framework to help you and your family make certain that most of the important questions in breast cancer diagnosis and treatment have been addressed. As cancer treatments are constantly evolving, specific recommendations and treatments might change and you should always confer with your treatment team regarding any questions.

Is the doctor sure I have breast cancer?

Certain types of cancer are relatively easy to identify by standard microscopic evaluation of the tissue. This is generally true for the most common types of breast cancer.

However, as the search for earlier and rarer forms of breast cancer progresses, it can be difficult to be certain that a particular group of cells is malignant (cancerous). At the same time, benign conditions may have cells which are somewhat distorted in appearance or pattern of growth (known as atypical cells or atypical hyperplasia). For this reason, it is important that the pathologist reading the slides of your breast biopsy be experienced in breast pathology. Most good pathology groups have multiple pathologists review questionable or troublesome slides. In more difficult cases, the slides will often be sent to recognized specialists with considerable expertise in breast pathology.

Suggested Reading by Our Doctors

• tamoxifen, Nolvadex -
• Breast Biopsy - Learn about the different types of breast biopsy procedures, which are used to remove suspicious breast growth and examined for the presence of cancer.
• Breast Cancer - Get the facts on breast cancer symptoms, signs, stages, types, research, risk factors, diagnosis, prevention information and treatment options: mastectomy, chemotherapy, radiation therapy.

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