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Handling a Breast Cancer Diagnosis
New medical technology and available treatment options offer hope to breast cancer patients. Today, millions of women are breast cancer survivors. Despite this encouraging fact, discovering that you have breast cancer is scary. Once you find out you have breast cancer, it’s time to stop being anxious about your test results and channel your energy into your treatment and recovery. It’s time to look to loved ones for support and create a plan with your doctor. Whatever you decide, know that it’s completely normal to feel overwhelmed. Everyone reacts differently, but the news always brings up intense emotions. So take a deep breath. Yes, it’s scary, but it’s not impossible, and new medical advances are helping to make more and more success stories every day. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with breast cancer, here is a look at what you can expect next.

I Found a Lump, - What's Next?
Even when you’ve performed your monthly breast self exams, had your yearly mammogram without fail, and did everything else you were supposed to do for your health, you may still face that day when you discover an unexplained breast lump. It’s a scary time. On top of the rush of emotions flooding you - anxiety, fear, sadness - above all, the question: Now what? The answer: See your doctor right away. It’s time for further testing and a firm diagnosis. Here’s what you can expect:

To make a diagnosis, your doctor may perform a biopsy, where cells or tissue are analyzed to determine if they are benign or cancerous. There are several types of biopsies; each one screens for different things. Your doctor will determine which biopsy you should have, based on your individual case:

FINE NEEDLE ASPIRATION - where a thin needle is used to draw cells directly from the lump.
CORE NEEDLE BIOPSY - where a needle with a small cutting edge removes a section of the lump.
EXCISIONAL BIOPSY - where the lump and some surrounding tissue are removed.
INCISIONAL BIOPSY - where part of the lump is removed.
SENTINEL NODE BIOPSY - where a lymph node is removed under general anesthetic to determine if cancer has spread to the lymph nodes.
NEEDLE LOCALIZED EXCISIONAL BIOPSY - where a wire is inserted into the lump, then used as a guide to remove tissue.
ULTRASOUND-GUIDED BIOPSY - which is used when masses appear on an ultrasound but are too small to be felt by hand; after the breast is numbed with local anesthetic, a doctor will use an ultrasound to determine where to take samples from.
STEREOTACTIC CORE NEEDLE BIOPSY - which is used when an abnormality on a mammogram cannot be felt; after the breast is numbed with local anesthetic, a doctor will use a mammogram to determine where to take the sample.

After the biopsy, breast cancer will be determined to be either noninvasive or invasive. Noninvasive (or in situ) cancer is more or less encapsulated, meaning it is contained and does not appear to grow into the surrounding tissue. Invasive (or infiltrating) cancer, however, spreads into surrounding areas. Each type will be treated in different ways.

Treatment:
Beginning the Journey of Recovery Your doctor will review your biopsy before recommending a course of treatment. He or she will determine how much your cancer has progressed, determine how large it is and whether or not the cancer has spread. This is an important determination in deciding what treatment course you will follow. Discuss the various treatment options with your doctor.

SURGERY
Surgery is a common treatment. Depending on the various factors, this surgery may be a lumpectomy, where the lump and a certain amount of normal surrounding breast tissue is removed; a partial mastectomy, where a section of the breast tissue is removed along with the lump; a total (or simple) mastectomy, where the entire breast is removed; a modified radical mastectomy, where the breast and associated lymph nodes are removed; and if it is more serious, a radical mastectomy, where in addition to the breast and lymph nodes, the muscles in the chest wall are removed.
CHEMOTHERAPY
Chemotherapy uses strong cancer-fighting drugs administered either orally or by IV. It is a systemic treatment, affecting the entire body, not just the breast.
RADIATION THERAPY
Radiation therapy uses high-energy X-rays or radiation to kill cancer cells.
HORMONE THERAPY
Certain cancers respond and may be stimulated by hormones; for those types, hormone therapy that either removes those hormones entirely or blocks them may be effective.

More Choices, More Decisions
While in the past, most women with breast cancer automatically had mastectomies, there are many more choices today. Depending on the stage and type of cancer, you may have surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormone therapy or a combination of those treatments. It’s likely that the earlier the cancer is detected, the less invasive and more effective your treatment will be - which is why early detection is so important.
There are so many treatment options and combinations of treatments that it can be overwhelming. Your doctor will help you determine the right course of action to take based on your type of cancer and other factors, such as your age, general health and family history.