Where do I learn about my cancer?
If you have breast cancer you will likely look online to learn more. Your initial teacher will be your breast surgeon. His or her primary goal will be to teach you about your cancer, the best treatment options, and create a treatment timeline for you. You will learn more details and insight into your breast cancer from your medical oncologist and radiation oncologists when you ultimately consult with them. It is your job to learn as much about breast cancer quickly. There is good information online, but it is difficult to find exactly what you need to know, when you need to know it.
Why we created the Breast Cancer School for Patients
The Breast Cancer School for Patients helps you in a unique way. We have completed the difficult task of organizing the vast field of breast cancer into one, patient-friendly site. We teach you exactly “what you need to know” to get the best breast cancer care. Breast cancer care is very complicated, even for breast cancer specialists. You need to learn as much as you can.
The “Key Concepts” you must learn about your cancer
You must learn the important details about your cancer. Our short video lessons will teach you the basics to prepare for your breast cancer physician consultations. Take our video lessons on:
- What type and stage is my cancer?
- Will I survive breast cancer?
- Do my tumor “receptors” suggest I need chemotherapy?
- Do I have a “HER2-positive” or “Triple Negative” cancer?
- What is cancer “recurrence?”
Our short video lessons, printable notes, and selected references will point you in the right direction to learn more about the basics of breast cancer and will help you get quality, cutting edge care in your community.
You have time to make good decisions
The most important and difficult part of having breast cancer is that you must make good decisions for yourself. You will naturally feel pressed for time to learn everything and start your treatment as soon as possible. Time is usually on your side. You must work with your breast cancer team to learn everything about your cancer and your treatment options. We created the Breast Cancer School for Patients to quickly teach you to be your own expert in breast cancer. As such, you will make better decisions once you become your own “expert” in breast cancer.
Engage your breast specialists with questions
Print out our lesson notes with the key questions to make sure you are offered the best treatment choices. We educate you so you can engage and work as a team with your breast cancer specialists. You will make better decisions when you go into your doctor consultations already knowing the essentials and able to speak their language.
This is the first “School for Breast Cancer Patients”
The Breast Cancer School for Patients teaches you to be an expert and your own best advocate. Our “Patient-Driven Quality” movement (video here) is about empowering you to be at the center of all discussions and treatment decisions. Get informed before speaking with your doctor.
Register for our newsletter & “Cutting Edge” questions
Sign-up for our breast health updates and latest videos (here). Once registered, we’ll immediately email you our complete list of “Cutting Edge” questions to engage your breast surgeon, medical oncologist and radiation oncologist. We help you get quality breast cancer care in your community.
Patient-Friendly References:
- cancer.net
This printable booklet “ASCO Breast Cancer” (here) is a comprehensive guide to breast cancer for the newly diagnosed. The American Society of Clinical Oncologists is a leading organization of clinical cancer physicians and providers.
