Vitality - Summer 2012 - (Page 10)

Inspiration Breast cancer survival tips from those who know what you’re going through I L L U S T R AT I O N B Y ANNI BETTS WORDS OF Take Time to Find the Right Doctors After the shock wears off, learn all you can about breast cancer and your particular case. Don’t be afraid to get a second opinion, especially if your first doctor is not a breast cancer expert. “You have time to get educated and make decisions about choosing doctors and hospitals,” Meg says. “You are entering into long-term relationships, so choose providers that you feel comfortable with.” “Consultations are very important and breast cancer is so varied. There are no black-and-white answers,” says Susan Axler, 64. She was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1988 and is on drug treatment today after several recurrences. Since treatment is so individualized, there can be more than one treatment option. Find a surgeon, an oncologist or a radiologist in your community who treats breast cancer exclusively. Ask your primary care doctor for referrals, talk to friends or acquaintances who may have dealt with breast cancer before you, or contact the American Cancer Society and ask which breast cancer specialists are closest to you. Ask the physician how many cancer surgeries he does in a year, how many mastectomies versus lumpectomies he does and why, and how much experience he has administering radiation therapy or chemotherapy. Make sure you’re comfortable with the doctor’s nurses and staff as well and feel free to ask questions. Taking an active approach empowers you. “If a doctor says ‘I’ll tell you what to do and don’t ask any questions,’ it’s time to get a new doctor,” Shunyakov says. “This is your life and you need to be in control of what is going on.” Being told you have breast cancer is one of the toughest things you will hear. Coping with this information takes resolve and resources. Here’s what to do when you hear the news—from those who have been there before. Listen and Ask Lots of Questions After a breast cancer diagnosis, it’s common to block out anything else that is said. “Pretty much what people remember is that they have cancer and everything else goes into a fog,” says Leo Shunyakov, M.D., board-certified oncologist/hematologist with the Carrie J. Babb Cancer Center at Citizens Memorial Healthcare (CMH). “Make sure you have someone with you, like a family member or a good friend, to listen to the information and help you remember what the doctor is telling you.” Many hospitals have cancer programs with patient advocates. “They can help you understand options and reports, provide information about resources, give advice about treatments, and answer questions that you feel uncomfortable with,” says Meg*, 61, who was diagnosed with stage II breast cancer nearly four years ago. “They are wonderful resources.” While there will be a lot of details to process, know you can handle it. “Take a deep breath—this is not an automatic sentence,” Meg says. SAVE TIME AND GET ANSWERS ONLINE The American Cancer Society offers an online network to connect you with others on a similar path. You also will get relevant resources, expert opinions and peer recommendations based on your specific situation. Connect at citizensmemorial .com/vitality. 10 | S U M M E R 2 0 1 2 http://www.citizensmemorial.com/vitality

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vitality - Summer 2012

Vitality - Summer 2012
Contents
‘Not a Hitch in Her Giddy-Up’
Health Beat
Circle of Influence
Words of Inspiration
Heart Smart
Q+A
Going the Extra Miles
Support Groups Calendar

Vitality - Summer 2012