A Breast Cancer Diagnosis - Big Y® World Class Market®

Millions of women are breast cancer survivors. The advanced treatments available to you today offer more hope than ever before. Even so, finding out you have breast cancer is an intensely frightening experience. The process of going though a diagnosis can be stressful. After weeks of uncertainty, sometimes finding out your results feels like a weight has been lifted from your shoulders — at least now you know. And it also means it’s time to reach out, to plan what you need to do; to work with your doctor and loved ones as you begin your treatment and recovery. But whatever you do, know this: The emotions will be intense. Everyone reacts differently, handling the news in their own way. One of the most important things you can do for yourself during this stressful time is to remember that help is available — and to reach out for that help.

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 and 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 it is benign or cancerous. There are several different 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 is removed

• Incisional biopsy - where part of the lump is removed

• Sentinel node biopsy - where a lymph node is removed under 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 find out 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 of 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.

Knowledge Is Power: UConn Offers Patients Valuable New Resources from the American Cancer Society
Newly diagnosed patients at the University of Connecticut Health Center’s Carole and Ray Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center now have immediate access to the American Cancer Society’s vast Cancer Resource Network. Patients are provided with a customized Personal Health Manager kit that includes the latest information about testing and treatment options, clinical trials and emotional support, 24 hours a day. Patients, survivors and caregivers can also obtain help with financial and insurance questions, prescription questions, finding lodging, and transportation to treatment.

Article was reviewed for accuracy by Lori Wilson, M.D., a surgical oncologist with the
Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Connecticut Health Center.

Living with Breast Cancer: Strength in Survival
You’ve heard it before, but now it strikes a new, more personal note: There is strength in numbers. Can that possibly be true when you’re on the road to recovery? Can talking with others, letting them in, and taking their helping hand in yours really make a difference? Many women with breast cancer have said that the emotional support of those around them is a powerful therapeutic force for dealing with the daily ins and outs of recovery. Don’t dismiss it. Some things to consider:

Organized Support Groups
You may find comfort in hearing from others who are going through the same thing you are and from survivors who have been there and back. In fact, some studies have shown that survival rates are higher for those who participate in support groups. There are different types of groups ranging from relatively loose and informal to those that are quite structured and even led by medical professionals. The Cancer Resource Center at the University of Connecticut Health Center is an excellent resource to help find support groups and other community resources. In addition, women who are newly diagnosed with breast cancer can receive additional support through the Navigator Care program at the Carole and Ray Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Supporting Yourself — Supporting Others
As you move through recovery, there are certain things you can do to help yourself feel better and perhaps increase your chances of complete remission. As you’ve read throughout this magazine, certain lifestyle changes — including quitting smoking, limiting your alcohol consumption and enjoying a healthy diet — will make a very big difference. Even after you’re in full remission, maintaining these healthy habits will remain important to your overall well being.

Another way to participate in your recovery is to make yourself a breast cancer advocate. Becoming active in awareness — whether you participate in fundraising or charity work, peer counseling, organized events such as breast cancer walks and marathons, or any other activities — is a great way to do something positive not only for yourself but for others who are affected by the disease.

Fortunately, with so many choices available to women today, survival rates are higher than ever. In fact, over 90 percent of women whose cancers are discovered and effectively treated in the earliest stages will still be cancer-free seven years later. By taking action quickly and following your optimal treatment plan, you will vastly increase your chances of a full, healthy recovery.

Support from Your Family and Friends
Of course you know the people you care about — and who care about you — will be there for you to lean on emotionally. You may find that you need different things from different people at different times during your treatment and recovery. Don’t be afraid to lean on those who offer their help. In fact, it will probably be easier for everyone involved if you’re specific about your needs. Those closest to you will want to assist you in any way they can. Whether it’s practical help — a trip to the grocery store, cleaning the house, a ride to an appointment — or just a shoulder to cry on, these relationships will prove invaluable.

You can find more information at: http://cancer.uchc.edu/patients_families/resource_center/index.html

Article was reviewed for accuracy by Pauline Miller, LCSW, of the Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Connecticut Health Center.