eal PATIENTS. real STORIES.The SecretIs SupportGetting through breast canceris all about what you do to dealWhen Diane Alford, 62, retiree, received her breast cancerdiagnosis, she turned to her church family for support.“My church family took me to my chemo treatments andcame by to help with cooking and cleaning,” she says.Alford also drew on an existing relationship with a nurse inher life. “My ex-mother-in-law is a nurse, and she took it uponherself to be at my side every step of the way. She basicallyheld my hand all the way through it.”Maria Baker, 41, a child care provider and mother of twoyoung boys, shared the news with her husband first. “He’smy best friend and we’re very close,” Baker says. “He wasmy primary support person every step of the way.”Baker also drew support through social networking.“I used Facebook a lot to connect with other cancerpatients and to update my extended family inItaly,” she says.If you’re facing breast cancer, it’s importantto find a support structure that works foryou. It may include family and friends, asit did for Alford and Baker. Or you mayfind your own route. Whatever it is,choose something.Watch Diane’s StoryTo hear more about Diane’s journey through breastcancer, visit <strong>Baylor</strong><strong>Health</strong>.com/exclusive today.Diane Alford drew support from her church family during her illness.6 <strong>Baylor</strong><strong>Health</strong>.com
“Women who feelsupported duringtreatment fare betterthan those who ‘sufferin silence’ during theircancer journey,” saysHeidi Jordan, MD, anoncologist on the medicalstaff at <strong>Baylor</strong> Regional Medical Centerat Grapevine. “They perceive their sideeffects to be less severe and managebetter emotionally in the long run.”While Alford and Baker drew strengthand support through different channels,their outcomes were similarly positive.Both made it through their ordeal withflying colors and are cancer-free today.“Experiencing a breast cancerdiagnosis—and the months of difficulttreatment that follow—is one of themost challenging things a woman cango through,” says John Pippen, MD, amedical oncologist on the medical staffat <strong>Baylor</strong> University Medical Center atDallas. “You want to rally your friendsand family around you and take advantageof the great resources available.”Here are some common ways breastcancer patients can get that criticalsupport:FaMilY and FriendsFor most people, immediate family andclose friends offer the kind of hands-oncare and intimate emotional support thatis so critical during cancer treatment.In fact, many people find that theirrelationships are strengthened anddeepened through their breastcancer journey.Baker says she couldn’t havemade it through without theunwavering support of her familyand friends. “I never felt alonethroughout the entire process,”Baker says. “There was alwayssomeone by my side, either physicallyor emotionally, to share the burden.”support groupsSupport groups offer anopportunity in a safe, openenvironment to connect andshare with others who havesimilar diagnoses.Are You a<strong>Care</strong>giver?Learn tips on how tocare for a friend or lovedone who has cancer bylistening to our podcastat <strong>Baylor</strong><strong>Health</strong>.com/Cancerpodcast today.Alford says she leanedheavily on a supportgroup for cancer patientsduring her treatment.“They offered emotionalsupport and connectedme to importantresources that ultimatelyhelped pay for my treatment,” she says.Today, Alford runs a cancer supportgroup she started at her church. “I wantedto help others by giving them the samesupport I had,” she says.ForuMs and soCialnetWorks<strong>Online</strong> forums offer a unique opportunityto share thoughts, feelings and personalexperiences anonymously. Many peoplefind social networks like Facebook usefulas well, not only for sharing updates withconcerned friends and family membersbut also as a way to connect with othersfacing similar diagnoses.Baker, for example, received privatemessages from old friends after sheshared her diagnosis on Facebook.“A few of my friends from high schoolwere battling breast cancer as well, sowe kept in touch online and checkedin on each other throughout ourtreatment programs.”a CanCer naVigator“A breast cancer diagnosis requires manysteps from start to finish, and patientshave a lot of questions and decisionsto make,” Dr. Jordan says. “The breastnurse navigator can answer thosequestions, guide you through each stepand help you understand your choices.They make everything seem manageablein an otherwise overwhelming and veryfrightening process.”Baker learned the value of this supportduring her journey. “The breast nursenavigator at <strong>Baylor</strong> Grapevine was anangel,” she says. “After my diagnosis,I thought, ‘Now what?’ She guided methrough every step—from helping mefind the right doctor to scheduling myappointments to just talking me throughthe emotions I was having.”a proFessional Counseloror tHerapist“For breast cancer patients who wantadditional support beyond what friends,family and support groups can offer,professional counseling can helpthem find new ways to cope with theemotional aspects of a breast cancerdiagnosis,” Dr. Pippen says. “Yourtherapist can help you deal with thosefeelings in a safe, open environment.”Which -ectomy Is Right for You?For women facing abreast cancer diagnosis,the decision of whether toundergo lumpectomy ormastectomy is a dauntingone. Here, Anil Bhogaraju,MD, an oncologist onthe medical staff at<strong>Baylor</strong> Medical Centerat Carrollton, explainsthe difference and whichmight be right for you.lumpectomy is theremoval of the tumorand a small amountof surrounding tissue.“For most women,lumpectomy is the bestoption,” Dr. Bhogarajusays. “It’s an outpatientsurgery and has fewercomplications, lesspain and a lower riskof infection thanmastectomy. Plus, it is aseffective as mastectomywhen combined withradiation therapy.”Mastectomy is thecomplete removal ofbreast tissue. “Thereare a few cases wheremastectomy is a betterchoice,” Dr. Bhogarajusays. “For example, ifthe tumor is very largeand the breast is small,a lumpectomy wouldleave the patient with avery misshapen breastwhile mastectomy wouldallow for a completereconstruction. Anothercase would be whencancer appears inmultiple areas or whena patient is unable totolerate radiation.”Talk to your oncologistto determine whichoption is right for you.<strong>Baylor</strong><strong>Health</strong>.com 7
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