questions to ask surgeon after breast cancer diagnosis
After receiving a breast cancer diagnosis, it’s critical to ask your surgeon a range of questions to better understand your diagnosis and treatment options. Here’s a list of important questions:
About the Diagnosis
- What type and stage of breast cancer do I have?
- Understanding the type (e.g., ductal, lobular, hormone-receptor positive) and stage helps determine the severity and spread of the cancer.
- Is the cancer invasive or non-invasive?
- This affects treatment options and outcomes.
- What is the size of the tumor, and has it spread to my lymph nodes or other organs?
- Ask for details on the extent of cancer to understand your treatment plan.
- How aggressive is my cancer, based on its grade and other characteristics?
- The grade indicates how quickly the cancer cells are growing.
About Treatment Options
- What are my treatment options, and which one do you recommend?
- Discuss surgical options (lumpectomy vs. mastectomy), as well as chemotherapy, radiation, hormone therapy, or targeted therapies.
- What are the benefits and risks of each treatment option?
- How will treatment affect my daily life?
- This includes recovery time, side effects, and potential impact on work or family responsibilities.
- Should I get genetic testing to assess my risk for hereditary cancers?
- Genetic testing for mutations like BRCA1 or BRCA2 can guide your treatment and help assess risks for family members.
About Surgery
- What type of surgery do you recommend, and why?
- Discuss the pros and cons of lumpectomy, mastectomy, and lymph node removal.
- Do I need a sentinel lymph node biopsy or axillary lymph node dissection?
- Lymph node evaluation is essential to determine if cancer has spread.
- Will I need breast reconstruction, and should I do it during the cancer surgery or later?
About Additional Treatments
- Will I need chemotherapy, radiation, hormone therapy, or targeted therapy after surgery?
- Your overall treatment plan may involve more than just surgery.
- How will treatments like chemotherapy or radiation affect my body and recovery?
About Prognosis and Follow-Up
- What is my prognosis, and what are the chances of cancer recurrence?
- What is the follow-up care plan after treatment?
- Regular monitoring and imaging may be required.
- Should I consider participating in a clinical trial?
- Clinical trials may offer access to new treatments that could be beneficial.
Support and Logistics
- What lifestyle changes can help me during treatment?
- Discuss diet, exercise, and managing side effects.
- What support resources are available (e.g., counseling, support groups)?
- What are the costs involved, and will insurance cover them?
Asking these questions will give you a clearer understanding of your diagnosis and allow you to make informed decisions about your treatment.