Online Resources for Breast Cancer: Healing

Y-Me National Breast Cancer Organization
Focusing on patients who have recently been diagnosed, this page features practical tips from survivors, an overview of treatment options, important facts, and coping resources. The Y-Me website also provides links to support resources and other services, as well as basic breast cancer information.
www.y-me.org/diagnosed/
diagnosed.php

Living With It Breast Cancer Support Program: Diet and Exercise
Different diet and exercise regimens are appropriate for different phases of breast cancer treatment, a point that is explained and outlined on this site. It provides guidelines for eating and exercising, and informs cancer patients of the many benefits provided by these American Cancer Society-approved programs.
www.livingwithit.org/
patient/content/diet/
1a16.html

Women’s Information Network Against Breast Cancer (WINABC)
Decision-Making Checklist
Part of the very useful WINABC website, this checklist is meant to “help ensure that a patient has taken the necessary steps to understand her treatment options and gather the information she needs to arrive at an informed treatment decision.”
www.winabc.org/newweb/
breast-cancer-basics/
treatment-options.htm

People Living With Cancer: Breast Cancer
This site features “oncologist-approved cancer information” on every stage of the disease, as well as patient care guides, and information regarding research and clinical trials. Also included are links to support groups, the latest news, and resources for patients and their families.
www.plwc.org/plwc/
MainConstructor/
1,1744,_ 21-008-00_12-001042-00_ 17-001029-00_04-001,00.html

Breast Biopsy: Complete Information on Breast Biopsy Options
In addition to offering guidelines on maintaining overall breast health, this site also examines and compares leading biopsy procedures, carefully explains breast biopsy results and treatment options, and offers a community for sharing experiences as well as a resource center.
www.breastbiopsy.com

Facts for Life: Breast Cancer in Men
This site addresses a health condition that receives little coverage—male breast cancer. It outlines the risk factors all men should be aware of, provides a list of questions men should ask their doctors, and includes links to more information.
www.komen.org/stellent/
groups/harvard_group/
@dallas/documents
/-komen_site_documents/
spbcmen.pdf

ACS: Track Side Effects
On this site, you can find worksheets, designed to help monitor your progress during radiation or chemotherapy, which pose specific questions and offer multiple-choice answers. The worksheets serve as useful references for follow-up doctor visits.
www.cancer.org/docroot/
MON/MON_1.asp

NexProfiler Treatment Option Tool for Breast Cancer
Register for this tool provided by the American Cancer Society, and gain a better understanding of your treatment options, as well as possible side effects. “It will also provide you with questions to ask your doctor and personalized reports using published medical research papers.”
https://www.hersource.
nexcura.com/Secure/
InterfaceSecure.asp?CB=30

Life Issues: Breast Cancer

You Have Breast Cancer: What Now?
“ You have breast cancer.”

It may be the most terrifying sentence in the English language for a woman to hear. Four fairly common words have an unparalleled power to generate a range of feelings, including fear, confusion, anxiety, anger, and despair.

However, despite what many women may think—or dread—a diagnosis of breast cancer is not a death sentence. Once the initial shock wears off, it is important to realize that while breast cancer is a potentially deadly disease, it is also most definitely a curable disease. In fact, data compiled by the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center has shown that as many as 90% of all women who are diagnosed with breast cancer will be cured (www.cancer.med.umich.edu/learn/breastcancerinfo.pdf).

Still, hearing a positive diagnosis may leave you feeling victimized, and rightly so; as we all know, breast cancer isn’t going to just disappear. The disease needs to be conquered, and in order for this to happen, you have to get in the driver’s seat and take control of the healing process. The most effective way to do this, according to the experts, is to break it down into three steps: choosing a treatment method, seeking treatment, and initiating a successful recovery.

Choosing a Treatment Method
The first step you should take is to consult a doctor about the best available treatment options for you. Once you have discussed this with your loved ones and carefully considered all the ramifications, you can then make an informed decision.

There are two main methods of treatment: local and systemic. Local treatment isolates and treats only the tumor, minimizing effects on the rest of the body. Examples include surgery and radiation therapy. Systemic treatment, on the other hand, attacks cancer cells that may have spread to other parts of the body via the bloodstream, and is usually performed using chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and immunotherapy (www.cancer.org).

So how do you know which treatment will best suit you? According to information published on the People Living With Cancer website (www.plwc.org), there are several factors to consider when deciding on a form of treatment, including the stage and grade of the tumor, the tumor’s hormonal status, the patient’s age and general health, and the presence of known mutations to breast cancer genes.