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Coping and support
By Mayo Clinic staffA breast cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming. And just when you're trying to cope with the shock and the fears about your future, you're asked to make important decisions about your treatment.
Every woman finds her own way of coping with a breast cancer diagnosis. Until you find what works for you, it might help to:
- Learn what you need to know about your breast cancer. If you'd like to know more about your breast cancer, ask your doctor for the details of your cancer — the type, stage and hormone receptor status. Ask for good sources of up-to-date information on your treatment options. Knowing more about your cancer and your options may help you feel more confident when making treatment decisions. Still, some women may not want to know the details of their cancer. If this is how you feel, let your doctor know that, too.
- Talk with other breast cancer survivors. You may find it helpful and encouraging to talk to other women with breast cancer. Contact the American Cancer Society to find out about support groups in your area. Organizations that can connect you with other cancer survivors online or by phone include the Breast Cancer Network of Strength and CancerCare. The National Cancer Institute can provide more information on local organizations. You can reach them at 800-4-CANCER (800-422-6237).
- Find someone to talk about your feelings with. Find a friend or family member who is a good listener or talk with a clergy member or counselor. Ask your doctor for a referral to a counselor or other professional who works with cancer survivors.
- Keep your friends and family close. Your friends and family can provide a crucial support network for you during your cancer treatment. As you begin telling people about your breast cancer diagnosis, you'll likely get many offers for help. Think ahead about things you may want help with, whether it's having someone to talk to if you're feeling low or getting help preparing meals.
- Maintain intimacy with your partner. In Western cultures, women's breasts are associated with attractiveness, femininity and sexuality. Because of these attitudes, breast cancer may affect your self-image and erode your confidence in intimate relationships. Talk to your partner about your insecurities and your feelings.
- Take care of yourself. Make your well-being a priority during cancer treatment. Get enough sleep so that you wake feeling rested, choose a diet full of fruits and vegetables, make time for gentle exercise on days you feel up to it, and find time for things you enjoy, such as reading or listening to music. If you need to, let others take care of you for a while. This doesn't mean you're helpless or weak. It means you're using all your energy to get well.
References
- Breast cancer. American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/cid/documents/webcontent/003090-pdf.pdf. Accessed March 17, 2011.
- What you need to know about breast cancer. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/wyntk/breast/AllPages/Print. Accessed March 19, 2011.
- Chlewbowski RT, et al. Estrogen plus progestin and breast cancer incidence and mortality in postmenopausal women. Journal of the American Medical Association. 2010;304:1684.
- Giuliano AE, et al. Axillary dissection vs. no axillary dissection in women with invasive breast cancer and sentinel node metastasis. Journal of the American Medical Association. 2011;305:569.
- Van Wely BJ, et al. Systematic review of the effect of external beam radiation therapy to the breast on axillary recurrence after negative sentinel lymph node biopsy. British Journal of Surgery. 2011;98:326.
- Robert NJ, et al. RIBBON-1: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase III trial of chemotherapy with or without bevacizumab for first-line treatment of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative, locally recurrent or metastatic breast cancer. Journal of Clinical Oncology. In Press. Accessed March 22, 2011.
- Burstein HJ. Bevacizumab for advanced breast cancer: All tied up with a RIBBON? Journal of Clinical Oncology. In Press. Accessed March 22, 2011.
- Choueiri TK, et al. Congestive heart failure risk in patients with breast cancer treated with bevacizumab. Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2011;29:632.
- Petrelli F, et al. Bevacizumab in advanced breast cancer: An opportunity as second-line therapy? Medical Oncology. In Press. Accessed March 22, 2011.
- Gnant M, et al. Endocrine therapy plus zoledronic acid in premenopausal breast cancer. The New England Journal of Medicine. 2009;360:679.
- Coleman R, et al. Zoledronic acid use in cancer patients. Cancer. 2011;117:11.
- Pruthi S (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. March 22, 2011.
- Unexpected AZURE results lead to rethink for Zometa. Expert Review of Anticancer Therapy. 2011;11:329.
- Moynihan TJ (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. April 3, 2011.
- FDA commissioner removes breast cancer indication from Avastin label. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/ucm279485.htm. Accessed Nov. 18, 2011.
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