How to Create a Breast Cancer Treatment Plan

Learn how to put your breast cancer treatment plan together in this Howcast video with expert Marisa Weiss, MD.


Hi, I'm Doctor Marisa Weiss, president and founder of I'm also a practicing oncologist, and mom, and also a breast cancer survivor. So I'm happy to share information with you today that could help protect your life against breast cancer. If you've been diagnosed with breast cancer you're most likely overwhelmed, confused, anxious and you might not know exactly where to start and what you're next step should be. Just be reassured if at all feels like an emergency you do have time to make the best decision possible. What you want to do is work closely with your doctor to understand what is the extent and make sure of the cancer you've been diagnosed with. Because there is only one you and your situation is truly unique. You're true plan will be based on what the extent of the cancer is. So apart of diagnosis that they are going to figure out is it limit to the breast or is it involvement in lymph nodes. How big or small is it. Is it fast growing or slow growing. Is the cancer responsive to estrogen to rod to a G called curt two . Are there cancer cells in the fluid channels of the breast called lymphatic or vascular invasion just as examples. So those are some of the list of things that we look at to help us understand what is the extent of the nature of the problem that you're dealing with so that you're treatment plan can be customized to your unique situation. During that time that you're learning about to all these answers of those questions it could feel really uncertain and that's actually the worst time. You'll feel lot better once you know what you're up against and once you have a treatment plan in place. A breast cancer syndrome we have a whole section about understanding your breast cancer pathology report. We even have app that you can download all your portable device to put in your answers so that wherever you go you know what are the answers are to those questions about the extent and nature of your cancer situation. A lot of information is hard to remember and you want to make sure that you remember it accurately so that each time you work with another one of the doctors on your team the surgeon, the radiation oncologist , the medical oncologist that everyone is on the same page and that your tribute plan is co-ordinated between the special teams and so that you don't feel like that your care is fragmented or things are falling through the cracks. But it does mean that you might need learn how to speak up the way you didn't used to have to do. You need to find your voice and you need to make sure that you take on your probably most your most important job which is to protect and cherish the life that you have. And all of us as we grow older and wiser have to learn how to do it. I have a pair of pants in my office that I have there because I think about it that we would prefer to be full grow up mom would take care of us but we have to rise up and feel our inner strength and take it and use that to take on the challenges that life sometimes gives to us.

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