Facing a New Breast Cancer Diagnosis
If You Were Recently Diagnosed with Breast Cancer, Here’s What’s Next
A breast cancer diagnosis generates a lot of questions about the next steps and what you should expect in the coming months.
Each and every day, the breast cancer specialists at Virginia Oncology Associates (VOA) guide patients through the process of understanding their diagnosis and treatment options.
We’ve prepared information to help you get ready for your first appointment with the oncologist. Dr. Christina Prillaman, one of our breast cancer doctors, explains what you can expect at your first appointment and how our team approaches each patient with breast cancer based on their needs.
What Kind of Doctor Should I See For Breast Cancer Treatment?
Typically, patients will be referred from their PCP (primary care physician) or gynecologist to a medical oncologist. Oncology is the study of cancer, and an oncologist is a doctor who is medically trained to lead the care for patients after a cancer diagnosis. As a patient of Virginia Oncology Associates, you will have access to our breast cancer specialists located around Hampton Roads, including the Peninsula, Southside, and Western Tidewater region, as well as northeast North Carolina.
While the medical oncologist is usually the lead physician for your treatment planning process, there are other specialists who may participate in your care. Your care team may consist of several specialists, which could include:
- A breast cancer surgeon who will remove the cancer and work with the plastic surgeon to reconstruct the breast, if needed
- Radiation oncologist
- Plastic surgeon, if needed
- Other sub-specialists who may assist with treating potential side effects caused by breast cancer treatments
While surgery may seem like the logical first step, some patients can benefit from treatment before surgery, called neoadjuvant therapy. Visiting with the medical oncologist first will help determine the best treatment for your particular diagnosis.
As a patient at VOA, you will consult with a breast cancer doctor who will take the time to educate you about your diagnosis and develop a personalized breast cancer treatment plan for you in collaboration with other members of your care team.
Understanding a Breast Cancer Diagnosis
There are a lot of terms that come up related to the type and stage of cancer as well as its likelihood of advancing quickly.
Your Breast Cancer Type
Breast cancer can begin in different areas of the breast – the ducts, the lobules, and sometimes, the tissue in between. The location of cancer impacts the treatments used.
Hormone and HER2 Status
If you’re told your breast cancer is estrogen-positive or progesterone-positive, it means these hormones are helping to fuel the growth of cancer cells. Alternatively, the cancer could be fueled by an overproduction of the HER2 protein on the cancer cells. Sometimes breast cancer cells do not express hormone receptors or HER2 receptors. These breast cancers are often called “triple-negative.” Understanding the hormone and HER2 status guides the oncologist toward the treatments that will produce the best results.
How Hormone Status Affects Treatment
The Extent of the Breast Cancer
Breast cancer stages are typically expressed as a number on a scale of 0 through IV (4) – with stage 0 representing contained, non-invasive cancers and stage IV representing cancers that have spread to other areas of the body. Several tests are used to determine how advanced the cancer is, including images to see the size of the tumor and a lymph node biopsy to see if it has spread outside of the breast.
Which Breast Cancer Treatments Will I Receive?
Treatment options for breast cancer have advanced in the past decade. Treatment methods may include surgery, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy. Clinical trials and reconstructive surgery may also be part of the treatment plan.
Related Reading: How Breast Cancer Treatment Has Become More Conservative and Effective
Treatment Options for Breast Cancer
A breast cancer specialist will discuss treatment options with you. Treatments will be based on a variety of factors, including the type, stage of your breast cancer, and your age.
Your breast cancer doctor at Virginia Oncology Associates will evaluate your situation and recommend the most effective treatment options.
Clinical Trials for Breast Cancer
Virginia Oncology Associates can provide access to the latest clinical trials in Hampton Roads and Eastern North Carolina. Breast cancer research helps uncover various new breast cancer treatment options. It allows patients the opportunity to receive newly developed therapies or investigational drugs not yet available outside the study.
Talk to your oncologist to find out if you are right for one of our available breast cancer trials.
Prepare For Your First Oncology Appointment
We recommend taking a relative or friend to your first appointment as a support partner. They will be there to provide emotional support, but they can also listen and help take notes on all the information you will be receiving.
Here are some helpful tips on how to keep track of what you're told and remember any questions you have for your breast cancer specialist.
Document Your Journey in a Notebook
Your oncologist will share many important details with you, and it can be hard to remember everything. To stay organized, we suggest getting a notebook to keep a record of important information. This can include information such as how you’re feeling and what medicines or supplements you’re taking to any questions, thoughts, or observations you have regarding appointments and procedures. Try to put a date on everything you write down to keep your thoughts and notes organized.
Another option for tracking your thoughts and questions is audio recordings on your phone. Whatever you choose is fine, just pick one method and commit to using it regularly. Having information well documented can help keep the lines of communication open between you and your care team.
Questions to Ask Your Oncologist
- Information about any genetic connection your family members may need to consider
- Your lifestyle (diet, exercise, rest, stress)
- What to expect during your future appointments
- Are there any activities to avoid? Is there anything you should add to your routine?
- Diet and nutrition recommendations. Are there any natural supplements you can or can’t take?
- Who is involved in the cancer care team?
- What are the breast cancer treatment options, goals, and side effects?
- Are clinical trials an option?
- Is there access to supportive care?
- Is there any suspected lymph node involvement?
- What time frame do you have to make treatment decisions?
Should I Get a Second Opinion?
Feeling confident about your breast cancer diagnosis is extremely important, which is why many patients choose to get a second opinion before beginning a specific treatment plan. At Virginia Oncology Associates, our physicians provide many second opinions on breast cancer diagnosis and treatment options. Many insurance companies will cover a second opinion assessment, but it is still a good idea to contact your insurance provider to verify coverage.
Is My Breast Cancer Hereditary?
Most cases of breast cancer are not related to an inherited gene mutation. Only about 5-10% of diagnoses are caused by a mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene, and mutations in other genes cause breast cancer even less often.
Genetic testing identifies if inherited genes are involved in the cancer’s development and provides information about the risk of developing breast cancer for family members. For a patient newly diagnosed with breast cancer, the results of genetic testing could impact decisions for both medical and surgical treatment. For people with a personal history of cancer, knowing genetic information can be used to start breast cancer screening earlier or, in some cases, make decisions to take medical therapies or have surgery to lower the risk of developing cancer in the future.
About Genetics of Breast Cancer
You are Not Alone: Breast Cancer Patient Resources
Through this difficult time, the oncologists at Virginia Oncology Associates are here to help you every step of the way, which includes providing our patients with a binder with more helpful tips and what to expect during their breast cancer journey. Various community resources may help you too. Visit our Patient Resources page for more information.
Comprehensive Breast Cancer Care at Virginia Oncology Associates
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with a type of breast cancer and are seeking treatment in Hampton Roads or Northeast North Carolina, the VOA oncologists are ready to talk to you about your diagnosis and personalized treatment options. Our breast cancer centers are located in Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Suffolk (Harbour View/Obici), Virginia Beach, Williamsburg, Virginia, and Elizabeth City, North Carolina.
