Jul 22, 2006 10:07 pm US/Central
First 48 Hours Crucial For Breast Cancer Patients
Stay Focused, Says Expert
Dr. David Marks, M.D.
NEW YORK (CBS News) ―
-
-
Mammograms remain one of the best tools to diagnose breast cancer in its early stages.
CBS 11 News
Discovering that you or a loved one has breast cancer – or any kind of cancer, for that matter – is a life-altering event.
Robin Zarel was just 36 years old when she found out that she had breast cancer. "I was shocked. I was sort of in disbelief," she says. "I couldn't believe I was hearing those words."
But experts say it is important to stay focused, especially during the first couple of days. The decisions made in those first 48 hours after the diagnosis can be some of the most important.
First, bring someone you love and trust with you to your doctor's appointments. Ask questions:
* What stage is my cancer?
* What are the more and less aggressive treatment options available?
* Will I need a mastectomy?
* Are there clinical trials I can participate in?
Oncologist Dr. Avi Barbasch at the Mt. Sinai School of Medicine in New York says you should write down your questions beforehand so you don't forget. "Be very frank and honest," he says. "Whatever it is you're feeling or you're concerned about, put it down and have it answered."
And if there's any uncertainty, don't be afraid to get a second or even a third opinion. 'It's your life,' and it can literally depend on the right diagnosis and treatment plan.
Dr. Barbasch says, "It's important for the patient to ultimately feel very comfortable about what they're doing, that there's no regrets down the road that they made a mistake."
It's also important to stay positive and focused. "No matter what the diagnosis is or whatever the treatment is," says Zarel, "you will find strength that you never knew that you had."
Finding that strength and making the right choices has helped Robin successfully fight her cancer for 15 years.
(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
