One Size Does Not Fit All by Cheryl Stuck
When it comes to breast cancer, there is not just one plan of action. Beth Riley, M.D., specializes in breast cancer and hematology at the Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville. She said that although breast cancer is very common, there are about five different types and they can vary greatly. “When a woman is newly diagnosed with breast cancer, she usually has a lot of support from family and friends who often come with their own breast cancer experiences. What I find the women struggle with is the person who was helping them had a completely different type of breast cancer and needed a different kind of surgery. It’s almost like two different types of diseases, but because it’s titled breast cancer, everyone brings her opinion to the table which is often stressful to a patient with a new diagnosis. It’s important to understand that every woman’s breast cancer is her unique story. Her treatment may be different and should be based on the discussion between her and her treating physician and what’s best for her specific type of breast cancer.”
FACTS YOU SHOULDN’T IGNORE
33%
Cook food/meals
13%
Clean your house Run errands for you Provide childcare
26% 20% 46% 40%
Send cards, emails, or call Offer prayer
20%
Go with you to the doctor/hospital
How do you prefer people act toward you once you have shared about your sickness? 25%
Be Sympathetic
75%
Discuss the Facts 0
10
20
30
40
* 0% of respondents listed making a joke or acting like nothing’s wrong.
50
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Regardless of the type of cancer, Riley said, “One thing doctors always struggle with is getting patients to stop smoking. Smoking increases your risk of many cancers, including breast cancer, and it also increases your risk of recurrence of breast cancer.” The most common breast cancer is Estrogen Receptor positive (ER+) breast cancer, which relies on estrogen to grow. Riley discourages the use of supplemental estrogen (including bio-identical hormones) in women with a history of, or at risk for, ER+ breast cancer. “A lot of women take ‘natural’ herbals and vitamins that have hidden estrogen in them,” Riley said. “We generally just say to avoid these supplements because they could potentially be harmful in a woman.”
What are some of the most helpful things people can do for you?
Advisory group members are: Margie Beeler • Susan Boddy • Christie Bollinger, RN • Sherrice Bond • Kim Broecker • Jennifer Brown • Linda Burry • Kimberly Carpenter, DC • Tamella Buss Cassis, MD • Holly Clark • Stacy Cohen, RN • Diane Collins, RN • Pat Cooke • Funmilayo Dixon • Laurie Duesing • Kelly Davis Fleenor • Tanya Franklin, MD • Julie Garrison, MBA • Carol Graham, MD • Dawn Hayden • Pam Hayden, RN • Mary Haynes • Gretchen Houchin • Mary Jennings • Alexis Karageorge, MD • Dee Jay Kelly • Tomiko Coates Kiefer • Diane Kissel • Kristi Jedlicki Levenhagen • Melissa Little • Sean Maguire, MD • Geri Manning • Lisa Mattingly • David McArthur • Anne McReynolds • Tara Morris • Maria Munoz • Tina Nuttall, MBA, FACHE • Denise Orwick, RPh • Betsy Paulley • Mae Pike • Leesa Richardson, MD • Ticonna Roberts • Cheryl Scanlon • Rhonda Sigler • Burke Stephens • Rebecca Terry, MD • Myrdin Thompson • Deborah Tuggle • Lannette VanderToll • Jessica Walker • Marine Walls • Janie Biagi Watts • Cenia L. Wedekind • Anthony Westmoreland, RPh • Cathi Wiley • Kathy Wilkinson • Debbie Williams • Allison Young, LMT
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Breast Cancer Supplement
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