Resources

Five steps to good breast cancer care

1. Take some time. Most women don't need to rush into treatment. By taking some time to
learn about breast cancer, you can make better choices. Ask your doctor if your decisions
can wait a few weeks.

2. Learn about your cancer. Your treatment depends on your diagnosis (what kind of
breast cancer you have). Ask your doctor: What is my diagnosis? Are there any other
names for it? What are all of my treatment options?

3. Ask questions. Ask lots of questions. After all, it's your breast cancer, your body, your
life. It is helpful to bring a friend or family member to the doctor's with you. Before
choosing a treatment, ask your doctor: What is the treatment supposed to do? What is
my risk of getting breast cancer again if I do have this treatment? What if I don't? How
likely am I to be alive in 5 or 10 years if I do have this treatment? What if I don't? What
are the risks or bad side effects? Will any side effects last for the rest of my life? Am I a
candidate for a clinical trial? Find out how many new breast cancer patients your doctor
treats each year. Studies show that the best patient outcomes result from doctors who
treat at least 40-50 new breast cancer patients per year.

4. Investigate medical evidence. There isn't a “one size fits all” treatment for breast
cancer. Ask your doctor for evidence-based guidelines explaining which treatments are
most likely to work. Explore the National Cancer Institute website at www.cancer.gov and
call the National Cancer Information Center at 1-800- 4-CANCER.

5. Get support. You can get help dealing with your feelings, getting to and from the
doctor, paying the bills, taking care of your family and/or solving problems with your
treatment, employer or insurance. Call the RIBCC Helpline at 1-800-216-1040 for
statewide resources.

Printable resources

We encourage you to print these documents and bring them to
your doctor. Often times emotions cloud your thoughts and you
may forget to ask a question that was on your mind. These sheets
will help you to get the information that you need.