Breast Cancer Questions To Ask The Doctor (cont.)
In this Article
What kind of breast cancer do I have?
Breast cancer is not a single disease. There are many types
of breast cancer, and they may have vastly different implications. Breast cancers
range
from localized cancers such as ductal carcinoma in situ
(DCIS) to invasive cancers that can rapidly spread (metastasize). In
the middle of the
spectrum are breast cancers, such as colloid carcinomas and papillary
carcinomas, which have a much more favorable outlook (prognosis) than
the other more typically invasive breast cancers. Sometimes,
noninvasive
DCIS is found around invasive breast cancers.
What difference does a precise diagnosis make?
The importance of an accurate diagnosis cannot be overstated.
It is the precise diagnosis that determines the recommended
treatment. Treatment must be specifically tailored to the specific
type of breast cancer as well as to the individual patient.
Your doctor should be able to give you a clear description of your
type of
breast cancer along with the treatment options that are appropriate
to your
case.
What has been done to exclude cancer in other areas of the same
breast or in my other breast?
Unfortunately, there are some patients who may have more than
one area of malignancy in the same breast or even an additional
malignancy in the other breast. If this does occur, it can greatly
change the recommendations for treatment.
Therefore, it is critically important that your doctors carefully investigate
beyond the immediate site of the tumor to make certain there are no other areas
with possible malignancy.
Sometimes discovering these "secondary" areas requires careful review of your mammograms. It may also require the addition of special views from different angles and specialized examination of your breasts by ultrasound, MRI, or other imaging techniques.
Next: What type of medical team do I need for the most accurate
diagnosis? »
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