| Upon being diagnosed with breast cancer, there are | | | | depending upon your medications and other |
| many things racing through your mind. That, | | | | treatments that you are undergoing. |
| combined with the many emotions you are likely to | | | | 7. Can I still maintain my current lifestyle? |
| be feeling, you might not be able to sort out all the | | | | This is a good question to ask, especially if you have |
| things running through your head. | | | | some interests that you would like to continue to |
| However, after diagnosis, it is important to ask your | | | | pursue. For example, if you like to travel, you would |
| doctor some questions. The more you know, the | | | | want to know if travel is still possible during your |
| better able you will be in fighting your cancer. So, to | | | | treatments; or if you will feel up to traveling while |
| help you know what to ask during this time, here is a | | | | undergoing treatments. |
| list of some of the questions that will help you: | | | | 8. Are there any types of exercise that would be |
| 1. What type of cancer do I have and how advanced | | | | safe and beneficial for me during treatment? |
| is it? | | | | When having treatments, you do not want to |
| It is important to know what type of cancer you | | | | overdo it, but there might be some exercises that |
| have and what stage you are in. Different types of | | | | will help you to have more energy, stay flexible, and |
| cancers are responsive to different treatments. So, | | | | feel a little bit better. You should ask your doctor |
| knowing the type of cancer is vital. Also, you need | | | | about exercise, as he or she can give you ideas for |
| to know which stage you are in, to better determine | | | | what things you can do to help. |
| how soon treatments will need to begin, to give you | | | | 9. Do you recommend any vitamins or supplements |
| the best chance of survival. | | | | to help me deal with side effects or symptoms? |
| 2. How aggressive is my breast cancer? | | | | Along with diet and exercise, there might be some |
| This goes along with the first question. If your cancer | | | | vitamins or supplements that can be of help. It is |
| is very aggressive, you will need different treatments | | | | important to ask your doctor about these, especially |
| than if you had a less aggressive form of cancer. | | | | since they may interact with your current |
| 3. What are my treatment options? | | | | medications or treatments. |
| Depending on your type and stage of cancer, your | | | | 10. What are the chances of reoccurrence and how |
| options may vary. Your doctor can best tell you the | | | | can I tell if the cancer is coming back? |
| different options available to you for your type of | | | | After your treatments succeed, there is a time of |
| cancer. | | | | elation knowing that the treatments (and all of their |
| 4. What are the side-effects associated with those | | | | side-effects) were worth it. However, there is a |
| treatments? | | | | chance that the cancer can return. So, it is important |
| You want the best treatments that you can get, but | | | | to ask your doctor about the possibility of a |
| it is very important to know which side effects are | | | | reoccurrence. Also, remember to ask which |
| possible. Knowing ahead of time can help you to | | | | symptoms to keep an eye out for, so that you will |
| better decide which treatment options you are able | | | | be able to catch a reoccurrence quickly. Early |
| to try. | | | | detection is your best tool for beating cancer. |
| 5. Is surgery necessary? What is the recovery time | | | | When you speak to your doctor after being |
| like for that surgery? | | | | diagnosed with breast cancer, be sure to take these |
| Sometimes, surgery is necessary to remove your | | | | questions with you. It would be equally helpful to |
| cancer. If you are a surgery candidate, be sure to | | | | take a notebook in with, so you can jot down the |
| ask your doctor about the details that the surgery | | | | doctor's answers and advice. Cancer can be fought, |
| will entail, what your recovery process will be like, | | | | but it is vitally important for you to know what you |
| and approximately how long recovery will take. This | | | | are facing and what can be done to help you the |
| is especially important if you must have someone | | | | most. Your doctor is an excellent resource to help |
| with you during the recovery time. | | | | you with these questions, but you have to |
| 6. Are there any dietary changes or restrictions that | | | | remember to ask. |
| would be helpful? | | | | And remember, let's all spread the word and tell our |
| There are several dietary considerations to take into | | | | friends and family how important early detection is |
| account when you have cancer. There are some | | | | by going to your doctor for regular annual wellness |
| foods that can help you better fight cancer, as well | | | | tests like pap/cervical cancer screening, self breast |
| as some that should be avoided. This can also vary | | | | examinations and mammograms. |